The Story of King Arthur and His Knights

By: Howard Pyle

Narrated by: Stuart Langton

For hundreds of years, the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table has been one of the world's most precious literary possessions. In 1902, the distinguished American artist Howard Pyle undertook to retell and illustrate this classic. His four-volume work has long been considered one of the outstanding interpretations of the Arthurian cycle.

Here, in The Story of King Arthur and His Knights, the first volume of the four, is the true spirit of the England of that time, when Arthur, son of Uther-Pendragon, was overlord of Britain and Merlin was a powerful enchanter, when the sword Excalibur was forged and won, when the Round Table came into being.

(P)2002 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Howard Pyle's 1902 retelling of the English classic captures all the mystery, language, and legend of the early days of King Arthur....The old stories take on a fresh vitality under Langton's skillful touch and leave us looking for the next volume." (AudioFile)

Excellent.

This is gives very great pleasure to read or to listen. The story is wonderful and the narrator is outstanding. I found myself hoping for the next volume!

They loved goodness

Beautiful story, get past the monotone narrator and look up some of the words to make the story understandable, it is worth it. The knights and bell dames of this time loved goodness and enjoyed partaking in good things with the frank ease of children and the wit of comedians. They had a good time. They did what is right and recognized their wrongs. They loved to give honor to those greater than themselves and service was near to kinship. They all seem like a big family, some of them get up to mischief but they all treat one another with dignity and honor (mostly). Their faults are sometimes severe and comical even but they turn back from their hot headed deeds with equal part sorrow and grief with no excuse. Simply lighthearted and full of joy. They liked to be happy. I think some people today, perhaps a lot, want misery, or goodness and embracing the truth are too difficult for them to attempt with humility.

Great classic fantasy

I love Arthurian legend and haven’t read it in some time. I really enjoyed jumping back into it.

Enjoyed every tale

Excellent story and the narration very well done. Highly recommend. A book that I wished would not end.

Merlin died HOW?!?!?

Y'know, I love Monty Python's The Holy Grail, and listening to this put so much of the story behind the glorious laughs it provided me every time I have watched it. I had no clue there were that many knights that sat at the round table, and the reason behind Merlin's fate was fucking insane. I would highly recommend this to anyone who has some spare time that would like to listen to an awesome story.

Marvelous!! Simply marvelous!

The story was full of virtues that any person would do well to imitate,and end of the story was perfect. I was very pleased with it all.

A really relatable Arthurian story

A great story that I really enjoyed and I found a ton of growth and development in listening to it. I must recommend it.

perfect in everything.

When you think of a great story, this is what you should strive to find.

excellently read.

The Eternal Story

It is hard to find the words to express my deep affection for these stories. The telling of them the lessons to be gained. A journey into another lifetime.

The Driest Version of Arthurian Legend

The stories of Arthur and his Knights are timeless. Their heroic deeds and all too human failings serve to remind us that while no one is perfect, we must never stop trying to be better than what we are. They are stories of passion and soul, and sadly none of that was here. Howard Pyle’s collection is good structurally, and even thematically, serving up life lessons at the end of each tale….but it felt too academic. That and the narration was very dry as well. I would put this on and stop listening after about thirty minutes. At one point I fell asleep. For the Arthurian completionist, be my guest. For the casual reader, look elsewhere.