Realms of the Round Table
John Matthews, an Arthurian scholar, boasts a five-decades-long study of British legend resulting in 90 books. This one is divided into three: Book of the Knights Adventurous, Tales of Love and Honour, and Guardians of the Grail. There are thirty distinct Arthurian stories, retellings in accessible language, with brief footnotes for the uninitiated (e.g., “Nones is The Ninth Hour, or circa 3 p.m.”). There’s an introduction for each story and a deeper dive on the origins of and authorial choices for them in the “Notes and Sources” section.
Knights, damosels [sic], monsters, and magic are expected, but some of these tales are appearing in English for the first time – here is something new. While Matthews has a soft spot for Gawain, several lesser-known knights of Camelot also take center stage; the Round Table was, after all, made to seat 150. The reader will encounter relative unknowns, such as Sir Fergus, unearthed (so far) in only a single tale, from two 13th-century sources.
While replete with the usual beauty and adventure, the stories Matthews chooses are not all brave chivalry and damosels lovely and chaste. Some, such as “King Arthur and Gorlagon,” are tales “half morality and half horror, with a shock ending.” It conceptualizes women as lustful, treacherous destroyers. Given current sensitivities, tales like these lead to needless disclaimers, such as “For those who are angered by it, I bid you remember that this tale was told long ago, when times were not as they are now.”
Tolkien artist John Howe provides beautiful illustrations to enhance the text, and my only disappointment was that I had an advance galley, so couldn’t see them in color on glossy plates. Doubtless the finished product will be striking, and with unique stories of adventure, chivalry, love, magic, and even horror, deserves a place of honor in any Arthurian enthusiast’s library.
