Realms of the Round Table

By John Matthews

Pegasus Books
ISBN: 978-1-63936-903-4

This collection retells thirty stories from Arthurian literature, drawn from lesser-known medieval sources that reveal the rich and varied legacy of the Arthurian legend.

Excerpt:

Most people who know of the Arthurian legends know of Le Morte D’Arthur, but few are aware that several hundred other texts exist which broaden the landscape of the adventures of the Round Table knights and of the king and his immediate family. Most of these, unlike Malory’s book, were written in other languages: French, German, Italian, Dutch and Spanish. Quite a large number of them have yet to be translated, while those that have remain unfamiliar to those who only know Malory and possibly the works of Chrétien de Troyes, whose cycle of French romances widened the range yet again. There are many clues scattered throughout these medieval tales of Arthur and his knights which refer back to a much older stratum of stories, mostly now lost. In particular the many references to what might be considered a state of warfare between Arthur and the realm of Faery, implying that this was once a much more developed strand of the myths. This is referenced clearly in the final story of the book, ‘King Arthur and the Dragon of Normandy’, in which the king is stated to be the leader of the Faery Hosts. I have done my best to identify these details and to place them where they may be seen in the stories told here.

Who is this book for?

Aimed at the general reader, this book offers adaptations of lesser-known Arthurian tales such as The Avenging of Raguidel, The Turk and Sir Gawain, and Sir Cleges and the Christmas Court. The author includes detailed descriptions of where the original texts are from, which would allow readers to explore them in more depth.

The Author

John Matthews is a historian and author known for his extensive writings on the Arthurian legend, often approached through a New Age or mystical lens.

You can learn more about this book from the publisher’s website.

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