The Legends of King Arthur and His Knights

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

12753

Title

The Legends of King Arthur and His Knights

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A popular retelling of the Arthurian legends, this book chronicles the rise of King Arthur, the founding of the Round Table, and the tragic fall of Camelot. Blending historical romance with chivalric adventure, it explores themes of honor, betrayal, and destiny through the epic quests of legendary knights like Lancelot, Gawain, and Galahad.

Summary up to 500 words

In *The Legends of King Arthur and His Knights*, Sir James Knowles weaves a popular narrative of Britain's legendary past, drawing primarily from Sir Thomas Malory's *Le Morte d'Arthur* while incorporating elements from Geoffrey of Monmouth. The tale begins with the prophecy of Merlin and the birth of Arthur, who rises to unite Britain against Saxon invaders. Establishing a court of noble knights bound by oaths of chivalry, Arthur creates the Round Table, a symbol of unity and equality. However, internal tensions soon simmer beneath the surface of this idealistic fellowship. The narrative follows the heroic quests of various knights, including Sir Lancelot, whose tragic love for Queen Guinevere eventually fractures the court. This affair leads to civil war, deepened by the death of Sir Gawain at Lancelot's hands. Meanwhile, the pure quest of Sir Galahad for the Holy Grail highlights the spiritual purity required to achieve such a feat, contrasting sharply with the corruption and jealousy that plague Camelot. Political intrigue and betrayal escalate as the usurper Modred seizes the throne, claiming Arthur has fallen in battle. The story culminates in the bloody Battle of Barham Downs. Though Arthur slays Modred, he is mortally wounded by the traitor's final blow. Betrayed by his own, Arthur is taken to Avalon by three queens to heal in the Vale of Avilion, leaving the Round Table dissolved and the realm in mourning. Sir Bedivere, Arthur's loyal squire, is tasked with casting Excalibur into the lake, a ritual that marks the end of an era. The tale serves as a poignant meditation on the fragility of idealism and the inevitable decay of even the greatest kingdoms, illustrating how personal sin and political ambition can destroy a utopian vision.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Adventure
• History
• Fiction