Thomas Malory (1405–1471)

Getting so bored with the constant jousting and macho showing-off (didn't T H White compare it to an obsession with cricket batting averages?) Then you come across this: "So on a day a little afore the month of May, Sir Tristram chased an hart passing eagerly, and so the hart passed by a fair well. And then Sir Tristram alit and put off his helm to drink of that burbly water. Right so he heard and saw the Questing Beast come to the well. When Sir Tristram saw that beast he put on his helm, show more for he deemed he should hear of Sir Palomides, for that beast was his quest"....
Love it. show less

And so the cry was made in Ingelonde, Walys, Scotlonde, Irelonde, and Cornuayle, and in all the Oute Iles, and in Bretayne and many contraye, that at Oure Lady Day the Assumption next folowynge, men sholde com to the Castell Perelus besyde the Ile of Avylon.

Well, I didn't mean to put ten months into this. It's just so wordy. But, I mean, it’s fun. Tales of knights and damsels doing crazy and (to them) honorable or dishonorable things, all in this lovely 1400’s prose with this charming show more 1400’s spelling (partially modernized). Heads and limbs are lopped off, swords go in to the brain, or to the teeth, or, one even might “clave his hede unto the pappys”. I usually didn’t so much care what happened, although the ridiculousness of it can be entertaining, or annoying, but just enjoyed watching it happen. Still it’s moving when Malory changes the tone to be moving, when Arthur or Trystram or Lancelot gets morosely nostalgic at the end of various things.

Arthurian Romance have a long history through the Middle Ages, along with the stories of Roland and others. Malory marks a watershed moment because it's complete, very charming in its "parataxis" style, but mainly because it was printed, first in 1485. There are more copies of Malory in existence than of everything on the Arthurian tales beforehand, combined. Malory in English has dominated the mythology by sheer numbers. And everything afterward is influenced by him. However, I didn’t read this printed version by William Caxton. My Norton edition used a manuscript by Malory, the Winchester Manuscript discovered in 1934, that predates the printing. The manuscript is incomplete, so Norton uses the Caxton version to fill in holes (or make corrections)

There is an oddity about Thomas Malory in that we are not quite sure who he was. That is, we are not sure which person named Thomas Malory was the author. There are a few options. But the general consensus is that he was knight and that wrote most of these tales while locked up in prison. Which leaves a lot of questions on how he accessed his sources. Most of this is clearly sourced from previous Old French works, as Malory tells us, even as he tends to say so in places where he diverges from known sources. There is a color here that seems to reflect the violent political chaos of the English 1400’s, the era of the War of Roses, maybe especially in the convenient alliances with unpalatable people, or how quickly knights change sides, or work against their own king. Or maybe in the might makes right ethic that is presented here as the basic reality of legal process in dark ages England.

So, what’s inside? There are twelve defined books that cover Arhtur's lineage, and his incest with his sister, Morgan le Fey, leading to the birth of his son and nephew, Mordred. His marriage to Gwenyvere. His guidance by Merlin, who helps him create the knights of the Round Table, but who predicts his fall and then disappears. But then there are several miscellaneous tales. The tale of Bayln and Balan, the story of Lancelot’s early life, the story of Gareth, which has no pre-Malory source and may have been created by him, The tale of Trystram and Isolde, who was the queen of King Mark of Cornwall who Trystram served. The quest of the Grail, or Sangreal, focusing on Lancelot’s son Sir Galahad, along with Sir Percival, and Sir Bors, as well as few knights who were not worthy. The tragedy of Lancelot and Gwenyvere, with its romantic moments, and its role in bringing down Arthur. When Arthur is forced to confront Lancelot for his affair with Gwenyvere, his army is weakened as his knights must fight each other. And this allows Mordred to try to take advantage. So we see Arthur's fall and his sort of death. He is carried, still alive, by "a lytyll barge wyth many fayre ladyes in hit; and amonge hem all was a quene, and all they had blak hoodis". The list of characters in these tales includes Sir Gawaine, hero of The Green Knight, here Arthur's rather disreputable nephew. But as much as we readers hate Sir Gawain and all the bad things he does and problems he causes, he never breaks the mutual loyalty between him and Arthur. King Pellinore and the Saracen, Palomydes, both in pursuit of "the Questing Beast". Sir Ector de Maris, brother of Lancelot. The dame Elaine of Corbin, who tricks Lancelot into getting her pregnant, and gives birth to Sir Galahad. Who later tells Lancelot "I have gyvyn the the grettyst ryches in the fayryst floure that ever I had, and that is my maydynhode that I should never have agayn" And dame Elaine le Blank, who dies of love for Lancelot. Sir Meliagrance, who kidnaps Gwenyvere, and then, when Lancelot comes to her rescue again, can't convince anyone when he discovers Lancelot has slept with her. Lancelot kills Meliagrance in a trial by duel.

Most of these stories have a sense of humor, especially the Tale of Sir Gareth, who pledges to help a woman who despises him. They travel and she constantly berates him as a bad knight. Much of the tales is action, one thing happens and then another. The quest for the grail is different in the interiority sort of pursued. Suddenly might is not right, but knights must be pure in their mind and heart and actions. Lancelot confronts his failure. Gawain is merely chastised by religious figures.

There is an odd mixture of fun and deranged morality in this lawless world where the peace is kept by knights who are supposed to be noble, but are not always so. They are common criminals and liars, but also they kill innocent people, have affairs with damsels leading to more crimes with other offended knights. The rule of law always comes down to might. Legal trials are settled by duels, with each party essentially hiring the best knight they can to fight for them. So, Lancelot will save Arthur over and over, and save Gwenyvere's honor and life, which are inseparable, even when he's the actual cause of her true dishonor. Mixed in are several tournaments, with winners and honorable actions and failures. One thing I found odd was how often a story is centered on a knight who hides their identity and then joins a tournament for a side against their own king. Although the hidden identities make sense as knights in armor were covered head to toe, an easy place to hide in the open.

In any case, I have moved on and completed this chapter in my literary path from Gilgamesh to some unclear future finale.

2026
https://www.librarything.com/topic/378447#9170674 show less

Highly recommended for fans of Arthurian lore.

Inspired by the 19th century popularity of Tennyson’s Idylls of the King (the introduction makes much of the author’s friendship with Tennyson), this retelling is based on Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur. I grew up on the Malory edition edited by Pollard (with Arthur Rackham’s wonderful illustrations), so these two books ought to be quite similar. Are they? Hmm. I haven’t read my old book in a while – though it’s now available free from show more archive.org: https://archive.org/details/ofkingartromance00malorich

From a quick perusal – yes, there’s a similarity, but not so much that it’s not worthwhile to read both books. Both update and abridge the text, making it bit easier for a modern audience to read, while maintaining the medieval flavor of the language.

Even if the text were identical, this edition would be worthwhile just for the illustrations. Louis Rhead was an extremely popular illustrator, up until the 1920s, and the images here show why. He does a great job of meshing the romantic style of the day with historical detail and Celtic design elements. Absolutely gorgeous.

Revisiting the content for the first time in many years reminds one how many layers have been laid over the original legends. While the illustrations reflect the romance and chivalry that we expect from these stories, the stories themselves are another thing. These are not stories that reflect the romantic ideals of the 19th century, and certainly not the attitudes of the 21st. The attitudes displayed here are literally right out of the middle ages. His knights pay lip service to honor and courtesy, and not much more. These are petty, jealous, violent men. They quarrel constantly and for no reason. It’s dishonorable to kill your own brother, but pretty much anyone else is fair game. Women are frequently treated as property. Combat is the expected way to resolve any dispute, and a way to prove one’s worth. (Although noble blood is also expected to ‘tell’ – a low-born boy who shows talent at knightly pursuit must, of course, actually be a knight’s bastard.) These attitudes are woven in with a mystical/magical view of Christianity which is also very alien to a modern conception of the religion. It’s fascinating!

Aside from giving an accurate glimpse into the culture and issues of another time, this book would also lend itself quite well to a drinking game. A shot every time someone’s head is either ‘smote’ directly off or cleaved in two, would get you wasted pretty quickly! ;-)

A copy of this Dover e-book edition was provided by NetGalley - which affects my opinion not at all. THANKS! show less

I first read this book as part of a King Arthur class in college and thought I should read it again as a non-student.

I think my opinion stayed pretty much the same. Because of the time period that it was written in, there was a huge emphasis on the Christian religion and purity, which was all fine and dandy, but there were numerous violations of that (though they were not seen as violations for the characters).

There was slaughter of so called "savages" and constant fighting (and killing) show more over tiny mistakes and oftentimes, the characters didn't even know each other during sanctioned fights. The women were pathetic and weak and when they weren't, they were portrayed as evil. Guinevere was a horrible person to Lancelot in particular.

Overall, the book took me forever to read, namely because of the writing style used, but I did enjoy it. show less