'An idiosyncratic reading', my 2001 review of 'Arthur, The Dragon King: the Barbaric Roots Of Britain’s Greatest Legend' by Howard Reid. #Arthuriana #Pendragonry

https://wp.me/s9xVjG-draco

Sneak peek of my piece for #GallantAndTrueZine ! 🥵

Yall this zine is a thing of beauty.

If you like Arthuriana, consider supporting us ⚔️

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gallantandtrue/gallant-and-true-an-arthurian-zine/

#Illustration #DigitalPainting #Preview #GallantAndTrue #GallantAndTrueZine #ShamelessSelfPromotion #MastoArt #ArtistsOnMastodon #ArthurianLiterature #Arthuriana

#OnlineEvent: Celebrating the 70th anniversary of J.R.R. Tolkien's Sir Gawain and the Green Knight lecture at the University of Glasgow (1953-2023)

#Tolkien #Arthuriana #Fantasy #Books #Bookstodon

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/70-years-since-jrr-tolkiens-sir-gawain-lecture-in-glasgow-1953-2023-tickets-566278242467

Arthurian hack to GMed soon, I hope. @evilhatofficial @johnharper @seannittner #Agôn #Arthuriana

I've just received this fantastic edition of one of my favourite Arthurian tales, both in middle English and translated in modern English. This book will have been read by the end of my Easter weekend. #SirGawainandtheGreenKnight #agrégation #arthuriana #MatterofBritain

Just FYI, one of my favorite writers has a new book! Definitely recommended for lovers of #Arthuriana

http://www.newconpress.co.uk/info/book.asp?id=221&referer=Catalogue&fbclid=IwAR0VI8afi6Pmbv0SOdFXseE3Nlp0JU2S1qGZZnrvH50LqfGpbzMVskgfb08

“He spelled the name out twice, and tapped his teeth. Gawaine. ‘I suppose,’ he said out loud, doubtfully, ‘they would have pronounced it Cuchullain in the North? You can’t tell with ancient languages.’” —T H White, The Once and Future King

While there certainly are similarities, I don’t think there are actually any direct connections between the two. But I’m not a scholar.

#Arthuriana #Gawain #OnceAndFutureKing #CúChulainn

I have been slow finishing the last part of the Once and Future King. The third part I read quickly, it was interesting to see his take on Lancelot. More than that, it was still fun.

But Mordred and the death of Arthur isn’t fun. It’s an inevitable conclusion to the tragedy, but it isn’t fun.

I definitely prefer the earlier parts of Arthurian legend. The parts that are primarily pagan myths hidden in Christian legends.

#Arthuriana #OnceAndFutureKing #LeMorteDArthur #EnglishLit #Literature

I’ve been enjoying The Once and Future King, but I could have done without Sir Gawain and the bad Scottish accent.

#Gawain #OnceAndFutureKing #Arthuriana

I’m quite pleased at finishing Le Morte D’Arthur before returning to The Once and Future King. So much of it really is expanded and in between Mallory’s text. She in the following quote is Nimue.

‘Than she and Merlyon wente over the see unto the londe of Benwyke there as Kyng Ban was kyng, that had grete warre ayenste Kyng Claudas.
1/4
#Arthuriana #LeMorteDArthur #MiddleEnglish #Lancelot #Merlin #THWhite #TheOnceAndFutureKing #MiddleEnglish #Literature

At long last I have finished reading Le Morte D’Arthur. I’m certain I will have more thoughts later, but I highly recommend the Norton Critical Edition or any other version you can find that preserves the original Middle English and is based on the Winchester manuscript.

While the language was more challenging, I felt it flowed more naturally.

Next up, The Once and Future King.

#Arthuriana #MiddleEnglish #Literature #LeMorteDArthur #OnceAndFutureKing #Medieval

For tyme hath bene, my lorde Arthur, that ye were gretly pleased with me whan I ded batayle for my lady, youre Quene: and full well ye know, my moste noble Kynge, that she hathe be put to grete wronge or thys tyme. And sytthyn hyt pleased you at many tymys that I shulde feyght for her, therefore mesemyth, my good lorde, I had more cause to rescow her from the fyer whan she sholde have ben brente for my sake.”

Lancelot is the patron Saint of Gaslighting.

#Arthuriana #LeMorteDArthur #Lancelot

“A, myne uncle Kynge Arthur, my good brothir Sir Gareth ys slayne, and so ys my brothir Sir Gaherys, whych were two noble knyghtes.” [seyde Sir Gawayne]

Apparently while both his brothers are noble, he definitely loved Gareth best. There are three lines that emphasize how much this is so.

Getting into the end game, Lancelot has killed forty knights in two days.

#Arthuriana #LeMorteDArthur #MiddleEnglish #Literature #Gawain #Lancelot #JustKnightlyThings

However, Lady Elaine arranges her funeral barge to be sent to London so all court will know her death was due to Lancelot’s refusal. Not that he owed her anything, but so it goes with knightly love.

Second tourney Lancelot bears the Queen’s favor, but this time pretends to be a Saracen. He really likes beating up his fellow around Table Knights.

2/2
#Arthuriana #Lancelot #LeMorteDArthur #MiddleEnglish #Literature #JustKnightlyThings

I finished Book 18 of Le Morte D’Arthur. I’m on track to complete it by the end of the year. This last book highlights two tournaments Sir Lancelot participated in. Both times disguised. The first he bears the token of Lady Elaine of Astolot, much to the jealous ire of Queen Guinevere.

While he recovers from wounds Elaine is at his side every day. But after he’s better she asks him to marry her and he says sod off. So she refuses to eat and dies.

1/2
#Arthuriana #Lancelot #LeMorteDArthur

“But at his [Sir Lanç’s] arrival* the joy of Queen Zinerva, the King’s wife, was a thousand-fold greater than all the others.” —King Artus, Anonymous (1279)

*There is a double entendre in Hebrew. Bi’ah can also mean the sexual act. See B. T. Yoma 86 b, and Mishna Kedushin 1:1. —Curt Leviant

#Arthuriana #Hebrew #HebrewManuscripts #Medieval #Literature #LeMorteDArthur #JustKnightlyThings

I finished reading King Artus (Hebrew Romance 1279). It conveniently covers the tale of Lancelot at Winchester which I just read in Malory. Sadly it is unfinished.

Plot wise they are much the same, although names are much mangled going from French to Italian to Hebrew.

It is interesting how the scribe used many biblical (Torah) phrases to help ground the tale in a more Jewish tradition. He also had to invent words for “knighted” or use “lad” to mean “squire”.

#Hebrew #Arthuriana #Literature

After learning that there is only one Arthurian romance in Hebrew, I was curious enough to pick up a copy. It’s not long, there is more commentary than text. And it’s also unfinished.

The bulk of the story comes from the French Merlin and Mort Artu, although by way of an Italian translation. But it also adds some distinctly Jewish perspectives, or so I’m told.

I look forward to reading it and comparing to Malory.

#Arthuriana #Hebrew #Literature #MiddleAges #LeMorteDArthur

A friend asked about Judaism in Arthurian literature. There isn’t any really. But in looking around, I discovered there is one Hebrew version of the Arthurian tale.

Unfortunately it doesn’t sound like there are any good translations into English. But it sounds fascinating.

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/arthurian-legends

#Arthuriana #Judiasm #Hebrew #Italian #MiddleAges #Legend #Literature

Here is the version of Le Morte D’Arthur I have been reading, and the accompanying reference material I keep on hand.

Le Morte edited by John Matthews and illustrated by Anna-Marie Ferguson

The Arthurian Companion (2e) by Phyllis Ann Karr

Marginalia by Greg Stafford

#Arthuriana #LeMorteDArthur #MiddleEnglish #Literature #Marginalia #Malory