Le Morte d'Arthur
Assigned by 1 of the 9 reading lists, catalogue entry only
- Written
- 1469-1470, printed 1485
- Era
- Renaissance
- Form
- Romance and tale
- Language
- Middle English
- Length
- Epic · 900 ppover 700 pages
- Difficulty
- Demanding3 of 5 for a first-year reader
We recommendLe Morte DarthurOxford World's Classics, 2008Helen Cooper's edition modernises spelling and abridges lightly; the Winchester text is in the Norton Critical Edition.
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Malory's compilation of the Arthurian legend, finished in prison in 1469 or 1470 and printed by Caxton in 1485 as twenty-one books. It follows Arthur from his birth and the sword in the stone through the founding of the Round Table, the adventures of Lancelot, Gareth and Tristram, the quest of the Holy Grail achieved by Galahad, the adultery of Lancelot and Guinevere, the war it causes, Mordred's treason and the last battle in which Arthur is carried away to Avalon. It is the source of most later English versions of the story.
No reading guide yet
The catalogue entry above is complete: the dates, the form, the themes and every program that assigns Le Morte d'Arthur are verified against each program's published list.
What is missing is the part that takes real work: the summary, the key passages, and a recommended translation. The edition named below is the one most programs assign, so the buy links are useful already.
