Review by Choice Review
Fulton (Swansea Univ., UK) and her fellow contributors trace the literary and mythical King Arthur through all his incarnations, from the Anglo-Saxon to the Scandinavian and from the 5th century to the 21st. Including succinct discussions of all aspects of the legend--Geoffrey of Monmouth, Wace's Roman de Brut, Thomas Malory, Chretian de Troyes, the Vulgate Cycle, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Mark Twain, David Jones, T. H. White, et al.--the book will further not only research but also readers' enjoyment of the tales themselves. Discussion of the resurgence of Arthurian lore in the Victorian era embraces both the literary and the artistic. In looking at the legend's modernity, the book includes chapters on the Arthurian women and female writers of the genre and the myth's impact on movies and plays (The Natural, Star Wars, Camelot, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Spamalot). The final chapter treats Arthurian-inspired video games. A must for anyone interested in the many aspects of the Arthurian legend, the book includes abundant references (including to primary sources) that will serve both those approaching this material for the first time and those pursuing complete knowledge of the subject. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty; general readers. T. Emery Austin Peay State University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
