Which version of King Arthur?

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • October 9, 2012 at 8:24 pm
    Rachel White
    Participant

    Howard Pyle version or Roger Greene version? Can someone give a compare and contrast between the two?

    I own the Pyle version but can check out the Greene version if it’s better.

    Thanks

    October 10, 2012 at 12:18 am
    MariAnKenobi
    Participant

    Personally, I prefer either “Le Morte d’Arthur” by Sir Thomas Mallory OR “The Once and Future King” by T.H. White. A newer series by Bernard Cornwell is also FANTASTIC (but not for young kids) – “Excalibur”, “Enemy of God”, and “The Winter King”

    Howard Pyle’s versions are good for younger children (about 3rd grade/10 years), and have been a favorite of such for many years. A good “starter” Arthur series. Roger Greene is, I hate to say, boring. It’s a rather difficult read, simply because it’s not that good.

    October 10, 2012 at 1:07 am
    Rachel White
    Participant

    Thank you. Mine are only 11 and 12, so I’m not ready to have them read Mallory’s or White’s versions-too adult. We have enjoyed Pyle’s books in the past, but I was wondering how Pyle’s and Greene’s compared. So Greene lost some of the “flavor” and magic (for lack of a better term) of the legend, huh?

    October 10, 2012 at 2:07 am
    MariAnKenobi
    Participant

    Yeah, that’s about the size of it. Green took a fantastic story and made it a mediocre experience. But, what can you do? Not all books are good ones, as sad as that is. 🙂

    October 10, 2012 at 1:00 pm
    4myboys
    Participant

    I’ve read a lot of King Arthur books over the years.  The book that got me “hooked” on King Arthur was Mary Stewart’s The Crystal cave which was assigned in our grade 9 English class.  It’s actually the story of Merlin, but their are three other books in the series that follow the Arthurian ledgend to its conclusion.  I would recommend it for high school, maybe grade 8. The Once and Future King I found started well but became boring, but then I was interested in the Arthurian story itself, not so much all the side stories of the knights of the round table. Boys may have a different opinion on this, however. The first part of the book is most similar to the Disney version with Merlin turning Arthur into a bird and the sword in the stone, etc…  You might choose to have them read just the first part of the book.  (I’m going by memory as it’s been 25 years since I read them)  Strangly, though I have 3 full shelves dedicated to versions of the Arthurian story, I’ve not read either Pyle or Greene. 

    October 10, 2012 at 10:15 pm
    Gem
    Participant

    We have been reading the Pyle version and my children – ages 12 and 8 – are enjoying it as a read aloud… I have not read the Greene version but we did read his Robin Hood and enjoyed it very much.  The illustrations are just so wonderful in Pyle’s King Arthur – that is why I chose it, I think 😉 I have printed them out as coloring pages for the kids…

     

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
  • The topic ‘Which version of King Arthur?’ is closed to new replies.