Reviews

The Once and Future King by T.H. White

manda_lynne's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad slow-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

3.5

elakudark's review

a shocking amount of anti-gael sentiment considering folks do not now and did not then actually speak gaelic in orkney.

other than that quite a touching and profound book.

emeszee's review against another edition

3.0

[3/5]
I'm so sad and disappointed. I was expecting so much more out of this book. Agh.

libraryofdreaming's review against another edition

3.0

The Once and Future King was not at all what I expected. I've had the intention to read more Arthuriana for a while now and I naturally assumed this book would be a high fantasy epic. Instead, it was honestly more of a modern political commentary mixed with a ton of philosophy and comedy. It was an engaging and for the most part entertaining book, but the genre really surprised me. Although I wasn't entirely in the mood for what I got, it was still quite interesting - just more quirky than I anticipated! And long, sooo long. It sapped a lot of my reading energy this month. I'm not sorry I read it, some of the philosophy and discussion was very interesting. I think T.H. White makes some very valid and thoughtful points about Might as Right and the value of knighthood as well as its dangers. I didn't realize that this was written in the 60s, but the parallels the author makes the World War II were very evocative. A philisophical discussion about modern warfare was not something I expected to find in a supposedly ancient classic! I guess it just means that the story of Arthur can be applicable to all eras. Personally, this is not my favorite depiction of Arthur but the transformation of Lancelot and the realism of the Arthur/Gwen/Lancelot triangle was intriguing to me. Not my favorite, though. I just wish some things had been fleshed out more (even though it was already ridiculously long) and some of the time gaps had been addressed.

Though not a perfect book or the best Arthurian tale I've come across, The Once and Future King was a thought-provoking read. It was certainly one of the more unusual classics I've read recently!

novaaa23's review against another edition

1.0

The first part, when Arthur was a growing up, was a slog for me. I liked the rest much better, but not enough to make up for trying to get through the first part.

thewintersings's review against another edition

Library book needs to be returned. I'm interested though and might need to buy my own copy. 

tablereader234's review against another edition

5.0

One of the best books I've ever read. Changed my life. Everyone should read this.

mooncandy's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

jungihong's review against another edition

Medievalist and modernist, meta and classic, this novel moved me most for its empathy for the tragic characters it seeks to show. Everything's been said I think about this book, but I first learned about it when my pastor, back in the day, quoted the novel in a sermon. But White was a secular man, only "afraid of the human race". Now, that makes perfect sense as he depicts a fantastical realm before Reformation, individualism, and Charles Taylor's immanent frame, a world organized under a cosmos in a modernist book. The humor [especially Merlin's anachronisms] makes me laugh, the nuanced portrayal of these flawed men and women make me relate. I find the work meaningful.

While White expressed a deep interest and knowledge of Irish culture, he engages in ugly stereotypes and blames... I've read a little about the context behind his bigotry, and it's useful to know as we look back.

Overall, a great story of innocence and experience and the sadness in both.

marita379's review against another edition

4.0

many things to consider here, th white you absolute weirdo