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betsygant's review
2.0
A great work, but it dragged for me-- variety and pace were lacking. The meter forces you to read at the same speed for the entirety. However, I see why it's one of Tennyson's best. Interesting morality analogies throughout.
jeffhall's review
4.0
Idylls of the King is probably my favorite rendition of the Arthurian legends, much more consistent and rewarding than newer works such as T.H. White's The Once and Future King.
Tennyson's ability to pull off this long epic poem is remarkable, and his beautiful language remains consistent throughout. The narrative pace does flag a bit at times, but the author's ability to capture both the romantic highs and the somber lows of the legends of the Round Table is extraordinary, and the overall experience is very readable.
Tennyson's ability to pull off this long epic poem is remarkable, and his beautiful language remains consistent throughout. The narrative pace does flag a bit at times, but the author's ability to capture both the romantic highs and the somber lows of the legends of the Round Table is extraordinary, and the overall experience is very readable.
pardonmywritings's review against another edition
4.0
Crying. Crying again? How many times have I read the death of King Arthur in several retellings and yet his final moments still cause my heart to cry out in despair? Guinevere and Lancelot's exposed affair, the fall of the Round Table, Mordred's betrayal...it all comes crumbling down.
Loved the way Tennyson evolved the legend but at the same time kept the 12th century atmosphere intact.
Loved the way Tennyson evolved the legend but at the same time kept the 12th century atmosphere intact.
emlickliter's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
4.0
Idylls of the King by Alfred Tennyson - Did you have a Camelot hyper fixation? Or would you like to have one? This is a good place to start! Happy Reading!
dakotah0312's review against another edition
4.0
It was only just recently that I became interested in Arthurian legend, and this was the first "authentic" (not a modern remix) of the story that I managed to find a copy of. It was absolutely magical and had feeling bleeding from the pages. This was a wonderful start.
itxh66's review against another edition
4.0
A really beautiful set of stories, and it surprised me with how simply yet flowery it was written.
I picked this up after writing an essay about Julia Margaret Cameron, a photographer who was friends with Tennyson and did a photograph series illustrating the Idylls, and Tennyson seemed really cool (I recommend looking up the photographs if you’re interested, they pair really well with the stories).This book was great! Some stories missed me but others were really nice and romantic. :)
I picked this up after writing an essay about Julia Margaret Cameron, a photographer who was friends with Tennyson and did a photograph series illustrating the Idylls, and Tennyson seemed really cool (I recommend looking up the photographs if you’re interested, they pair really well with the stories).This book was great! Some stories missed me but others were really nice and romantic. :)
jennawatson's review against another edition
Whatever you think of Tennyson’s overall project here, you cannot deny that his poetry is utterly stunning. It is rewarding to study complex texts that make me better understand problematic narratives we have inherited while also letting me read gorgeous poetry.
kailey_luminouslibro's review against another edition
5.0
Light frothy poetry, easy to read! Thoroughly enjoyable!
kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review against another edition
5.0
I could give you a hundred literary reasons to read these poems. I could talk about how Arthur mirrors Tennyson's own time. I could point out that Tennyson is one of the greats. The real reason why I love this book, why I love these poems is simply the poem "Gareth and Lynette". There are times when a reader feels truly connected to an author. Not in the sense of the written word being read, but in the sense of learning something about the author that also applies to the reader. For instance, learning A. S. Byatt also likes Terry Pratchett. When I reached the end of "Gareth and Lynette", when I read Tennyson's ending of that poem, it was one those moments. The "author feels extactly like I do about this" moments. That connection that can exist between a dead (or even living) author and a reader where both minds are in sync. Tennyson's work might be romantic, it might be heroic, but the ending of "Gareth” is oh so modern. Any modern woman would love it.