James Knowles

Legends of King Arthur Through the Ages James Knowles

There are more stories about King Arthur than you ever knew. Some of them may even be true. This massive collection spans the centuries of Arthurian legend. We are taken back to the sixth century in 'A Time Before Tales' by Colin Bradshaw-Jones. This controversial tale gives one possible explanation for a real Arthur. We are then transported to the medieval 'Kilhwch and Olwen' from The Mabinogion, translated by Lady Charlotte Guest. The story can lay claim to be one of the earliest written Arthurian romances in any language. Finally, Sir James Knowles gives us the epic collection which most closely resembles the King Arthur we know today, and which forms the largest portion of the book; 'And as they prayed, there was seen in the churchyard, set straight before the doorways of the church, a huge square stone having a naked sword stuck in the midst of it. And on the sword was written in letters of gold, "Whoso pulleth out the sword from this stone is born the rightful King of Britain."'