The Legend of King Arthur has been around for centuries. According to English lore, King Arthur was the first King of Britain after the Roman Empire left. In addition to Arthur being England’s first King, he will be its savior. The legend incurs that in England’s greatest time of need Arthur will return to protect her. King Arthur has been the source of countless stories and movies, including Sir Thomas Mallory’s romantic tales titled Le Morte d'Arthur. Arthur’s tale usually encompasses characters Guinevere, Lancelot, and others. Many modern tales about King Arthur have used Mallory’s Le Morte d'Arthur as their principal influence, including T.H White’s marvel, The Once and Future King. White’s masterpiece illustrates the majestic story of King Arthur.
Pros:
White’s masterpiece includes all the enchanting characters in the Arthurian legend. The Once and Future King is set in a medieval setting, giving the novel a perfect environment for Arthur and his knights to thrive. The author writes with clarity and is a magnificent storyteller. White’s modern English version of King Arthur is a pleasant break for anyone dreading to read Sir Thomas Mallory’s edition, written in fifteenth century prose. The story turns and drives through the audience’s mind with clarity, creating non-stop page turning fantasy. White’s interpretation of the Arthurian legend is unique. He creates his own twist to the mythic story of King Arthur. An example of this is Lancelot, who is not portrayed in the conventional picture as the handsome knight, but rather he is illustrated as an ugly knight. Merlin’s character in White’s novel is marvelous; he is one of the most dynamic characters throughout The Once and Future King. There is a lot to like about White’s novel from an excellent story to a new interpretation of the King Arthur myth from an author living in a world coping with the horrors of World War II.
Cons:
T.H White’s novel is a renowned classic work of fantasy. Not all fantasy lovers will enjoy White’s The Once and Future King. One flaw with White’s work is the originality of the story. White make his own interpretation of the King Arthur story, but all the characters have already been created by past stories of King Arthur, most notably Sir Thomas Mallory’s Le Morte d'Arthur. If you are looking for something that is original and different, then The Once and Future King is not the story you want. Another minor problem with White’s story is his reinterpretation of some of the characters. White’s new take on classic characters such as Lancelot will be a shock to people who are looking for the classic Arthurian setup. This is not an action packed fantasy, but easily comparable as a masterpiece to Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Outside of these few negatives, White’s novel is a well-written novel that will be a non-stop page-turner.
Conclusion:
The Once and Future King is an excellent book written by T.H White. White’s novel is a must read for anyone who enjoys well written fantasy or well written novels. White’s characters will connect with its audience from the bumbling old wizard, Merlin, to King Arthur. White’s unique take on the Arthurian legend is an adaption that illustrates his will to make the audience think outside the traditional box. The plot flows throughout the novel making this King Arthur story one for the ages. If you are looking for an action packed fantasy (Lord of The Rings) then White’s novel will disappoint, but if you are looking for a true piece of literature then White’s novel is perfect. Read The Once and Future King several times to appreciate the complex story that White has created. Though White lacks originality by writing a novel about King Arthur, his unique interpretations on the Arthurian characters create an original story out of a classic legend.
Grade: A-
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