Kirkus Reviews QR Code
THE LEGEND OF KING ARTHUR by Robin--Adapt. Lister

THE LEGEND OF KING ARTHUR

By

Pub Date: June 1st, 1990
Publisher: Doubleday

From the great struggle between the red dragon and the white in the skies over Dinas Embrys to Sir Bedevere's lonely vigil as the ship departs for Avalon, Lister condenses the best-known episodes from the Arthurian canon into a dozen chapters (omitting ""Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"" and Tristram's story). Readers intimidated by Pyle's bulky retellings will find this handsomely laid-out volume more palatable; margins are spacious, type comfortably large, and illustrations colorful, if not particularly detailed. On the other hand, much of the dialogue falls flat (Lancelot to Guinevere: ""Be brave, my love, be brave. Everything will be all right, I promise. I'll come back soon, you'll see""). Baker's bright paintings are often dramatic but unimaginative (Merlin wears a conical cap and a purple robe with supposedly mystical symbols) and not always in agreement with the text (on page 42, Arthur's sword is supposed to be broken). This won't replace Riordan or Pyle, but might appeal to less-practiced readers. No notes, historical or literary.