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winterscape's review
5.0
Everyone is familiar, even vaguely, with the Arthurian Cycle. I'd read a few related stories, seen the Sword in the Stone, even translated a little of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae in my Latin classes, but I'd never read a full accounting of the fated tragedy until now. This trilogy has convinced me that everyone should. Rosemary Sutcliff masterfully combines beautiful prose with accessible writing to bring these stories to life for modern readers. I can't recommend it highly enough.
In the first book, during the golden ages of Camelot, there is a tragic "fate-pattern," as labelled by Sutcliff, that looms over these young, shining figures. Despite that, The Sword and the Circle is a very fun read, with each chapter devoted to a new knightly quest. (Random knights coming across each other in the woods and yelling "Joust!" will never not be hilarious to me.) It is not all fun and games, however, and a lot of the pain set up in these stories sets fateful ends in motion.
The second book details the quest for the Holy Grail and all the Christian themes that come along with it. I appreciated this more than I would have as a young atheist irritated by anything religious. The depth of suffering many characters faced in their quest for the Grail, atonement, and their deeply held beliefs was very moving. I thought often, "Has ever there been a more tragic figure than Lancelot of the Lake?"
Are spoilers a thing after centuries? Well, if so, I won't say how the third book ends and what befalls King Arthur's court, but I will say that I cried loudly enough that my cat came to check on me.
If you are a fan of this book, I would also recommend reading Guy Gavriel Kay's Fionavar Tapestry. The authors have a similar poetic beauty in their writing, and his twist on the Arthurian Cycle will be a balm after this one.
In the first book, during the golden ages of Camelot, there is a tragic "fate-pattern," as labelled by Sutcliff, that looms over these young, shining figures. Despite that, The Sword and the Circle is a very fun read, with each chapter devoted to a new knightly quest. (Random knights coming across each other in the woods and yelling "Joust!" will never not be hilarious to me.) It is not all fun and games, however, and a lot of the pain set up in these stories sets fateful ends in motion.
The second book details the quest for the Holy Grail and all the Christian themes that come along with it. I appreciated this more than I would have as a young atheist irritated by anything religious. The depth of suffering many characters faced in their quest for the Grail, atonement, and their deeply held beliefs was very moving. I thought often, "Has ever there been a more tragic figure than Lancelot of the Lake?"
Are spoilers a thing after centuries? Well, if so, I won't say how the third book ends and what befalls King Arthur's court, but I will say that I cried loudly enough that my cat came to check on me.
If you are a fan of this book, I would also recommend reading Guy Gavriel Kay's Fionavar Tapestry. The authors have a similar poetic beauty in their writing, and his twist on the Arthurian Cycle will be a balm after this one.
lupuslibrorum's review
5.0
Sutcliff makes this look easy. Just tell the most famous parts of the medieval Arthurian legends, and weave them into a coherent whole—simple, right? But her saga reads so smoothly and feels so right, that her success masks some of her achievement. The sources she draws from often contradicted each other, and some even frequently contradict themselves (hello Thomas Malory!). There is a huge variety of material to draw from, with hundreds of characters and plot lines and a plethora of themes. And yet these three books (best read in a single volume) manage to pick the most significant and emotionally affecting threads and follow them through to their powerful, unforgettable ends.
Sure, there are a very few things I would’ve done differently. One of my favorite characters from Malory’s “Le Morte Darthur” is entirely left out; but then, Sir Palamydes the noble but jealous Saracen gets left out of most adaptations anyway, despite being a fascinating example of an outsider in both culture and religion who nonetheless rises to the top ranks of the Round Table.
In the end, this is a magnificent achievement that only gets more entertaining and enthralling as it goes. If you love the tales of King Arthur, and want a faithful but artful adaptation rather than a revisionist retelling, then this is the story to read.
Sure, there are a very few things I would’ve done differently. One of my favorite characters from Malory’s “Le Morte Darthur” is entirely left out; but then, Sir Palamydes the noble but jealous Saracen gets left out of most adaptations anyway, despite being a fascinating example of an outsider in both culture and religion who nonetheless rises to the top ranks of the Round Table.
In the end, this is a magnificent achievement that only gets more entertaining and enthralling as it goes. If you love the tales of King Arthur, and want a faithful but artful adaptation rather than a revisionist retelling, then this is the story to read.
laurenxoxo's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
At the start of this I was like ughhh it’s going to be so long but I actually did really enjoy it. I loved reading about all the adventures of the knights of the Round Table in Camelot and I’m very happy I read it. I just feel like it was a heavy read but still enjoyable and beautifully written.
queen_of_the_rats's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
roseparis's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A wonderful retelling of Arthurian legends in simple but beautiful prose.
zena_ryder's review
I got p. 126 and had to stop. This is very good, for what it is. It's a children's retelling of the Arthurian legends. I definitely recommend it for kids. But I just wasn't enjoying it. There's no psychological depth, or character development. It's a simple re-telling of the legends, not an actual novel.
I want to read a good book for adults, and I want dragons. Any recommendations?
I want to read a good book for adults, and I want dragons. Any recommendations?
catherine_t's review
4.0
This is a classic retelling of the Arthur story along the lines of T. H. White. Sutcliff sticks fairly closely to Malory, with some of the Welsh sources and others thrown in for good measure; she also adds a bit of her own imagination. The language is a bit high-flown for today's youngsters--there aren't that many "thees" and "thous", but the dialogue is rather archaic. I prefer White for that, for this age range. But it's a good, basic introduction to the legend.
ssgcedits's review
adventurous
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A faithful retelling of the Arthurian legends--all liberties are explained in the foreword note. It is very accessible and directed at the middle-grade/young adult audience. *Spoiler alert* As a fan of Merlin, it's always hard to see him leave the scene early on, still it's very well handled and his influence is definitely present throughout the tale. And, as a historian, I love the details about the spirit, rituals, and cultural adjustments of early Christianity. It is very much worth powering through the 800 pages.
myxomycetes's review
3.0
I got a thing for King Arthur stuff and I'm not ashamed to admit it. This is a pretty accessible retelling of Mallory's Le Morte d'Arthur.
The ultimate thing about Arthurian stuff is that they get less interesting the further into the cycle you go.
The ultimate thing about Arthurian stuff is that they get less interesting the further into the cycle you go.