The story of King Arthur from the education of a boy called the Wart to the dissolution of the Round Table -- written as a meditation on why good intentions are not enough.
About This Book
The legend of King Arthur is retold here from an unexpected beginning, the boyhood of a scrawny, overlooked orphan nicknamed the Wart, tutored by an absent-minded, backward-living wizard who transforms him into fish, birds, and beasts so he can learn what it means to rule before he ever pulls a certain sword from a certain stone. White moves from the warm comedy of that education through the founding of the Round Table and the dream of replacing might with right, into the darkening tragedy of Lancelot and Guenever and the slow poisoning of Arthur's ideal by old grudges and human weakness. The tone shifts remarkably across its parts, from whimsical and funny to elegiac and heartbroken, and throughout White reflects, often with startling modernity, on war, power, justice, and the cost of trying to civilize a violent world. This suits readers who want a rich, humane retelling of the Arthurian legend that is by turns hilarious and devastating, and who enjoy a story that grows up alongside its king. It fits less well anyone wanting consistent tone or fast plotting, since the book ranges widely and pauses often to muse. The detail that Arthur's entire moral education comes from being turned into different animals by his tutor, each teaching a lesson about power and society, gives the book its charming and thoughtful foundation. Wise, funny, and ultimately tragic, it rewards readers who love the legend and its meaning. Those wanting a single register may find it uneven, but the journey from a boy playing at being a hawk to a broken king mourning his dream is exactly what makes it unforgettable.
Who This Is For
Best for readers who want to feel something deeply, books that stay with you long after the last page. The writing rewards attention without being demanding, a good balance of depth and readability. It takes its time, and that's the point. Patience is rewarded. If you prefer to read at arm's length, this one may get too close.
Best Read When
Best read when you're in the mood for something moving and emotionally resonant, and a read that's slow and deeply immersive.
What It Explores
The Once and Future King explores identity and the gap between who we are and who we pretend to be, power and ambition and what they cost the people who pursue them, love in its most complicated forms, and war and its costs — both during and long after.
Readers Who Liked This Also Loved
Personalised Recommendations
Answer six questions about how you like to read. No email, no account. Free always.
Find My Next Book →
