A review by kikiandarrowsfishshelf
Idylls of the King by Alfred Tennyson

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.