by Kevin Crossley-Holland (Author), Hemesh Alles (Illustrator)
Legend, anecdote, historical fact and shadowy speculation - this is the world of King Arthur as it was seen in medieval times when the stories were first written down. A map of Arthur's Britain, the origins of the Round Table, the skills of Merlin and the sorceress Morgan le Fay, all help to create a rich background to the tales themselves. Punctuated with engaging quotations from medieval texts and with highly entertaining lists of places, characters and magical things, the book is full of information about medieval life: about knights, castles, heraldry, troubadours and courtly love, how to joust and win a fair lady, how to be a butler, and what to expect at a banquet (roast swan and peacock pie). Called 'a box of delights' by the TES and 'a fascinating guide to the Arthurian world' by "The Guardian", this was first published in 1998 as 'The King Who Was and Will Be'. It is now completely repackaged with line drawings inspired by medieval woodcuts.
Format: Illustrated
Pages: 176
Edition: New edition
Publisher: Orion Children's Books
Published: 18 Aug 2005
ISBN 10: 1842555111
ISBN 13: 9781842555118
Book Overview: Kevin Crossley-Holland's Arthur trilogy has sold close to one million copies worldwide and 350,000 copies in the UK. This is the perfect companion to the trilogy. Invaluable background reading to the Arthurian legend in a beautifully presented small format edition.