King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table, Roger Lancelyn Green

5 stars
Puffin Classics: Great Britain (2008), 385pgs.

Here is a grand collection of Arthurian legend. Included within are the four books: "The Coming of Arthur", "The Knights of the Round Table", The Quest of the Holy Grail", and "The Departing of Arthur". This is a book to read aloud.

Interesting fact about the author taken from a write-up at the back of the book: "He was a member of the Inklings Club in Oxford, a group of friends who read, and commented on, each other's work. Its members included C.S. Lewis (author of The Chronicles of Narnia) and J.R.R. Tolkien (author of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbitt). If it hadn't been for Roger, The Chronicles of Narnia might never have been published. In 1949, Roger went to dinner with C.S. Lewis. Lewis read Roger two chapters of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. He also informed Roger that he'd read them to Tolkien a few weeks before, who had told Lewis that he didn't think they were very good. Roger disagreed. He thought they were great, and he encouraged Lewis to get them published. Roger even thought of the series title The Chronicles of Narnia, and he went on to become the very first reader of all the rest of the Narnia stories."

a few quotes:

“King Arthur’s adventures did not end when he had defeated the Saxons and brought peace to Britain; for thought he had set up the Realm of Logres—the land of true good and piety, nobleness and right living—the evil was always breaking in to attack the good. It would need many books to tell of every adventure that befell during his reign—that brief period of light set like a star of Heaven in the midst of the Dark Ages…” (93)

Sir Launcelot's brother, Sir Hector de Maris, speaking at Launcelot's funeral:
"Ah Launcelot, you were the best knight in all Christendom. You, Sir Launcelot, who lie there never had nor never will have any rival to you. And you were the most courteous knight that ever bore shield, the truest lover that ever loved woman, and the kindest man that ever wore a sword. You were the finest man that ever was seen in a company of knights, and the meekest and most gentle among ladies, but the sternest knight to your mortal foes that ever put spear in rest." (381)