The Sword In The Stone

Instead of picking up the story of King Arthur from the day when young Art pulls the sword from the stone, T.H. White gazes back to the innocent childhood of England's once and future king, the days when outlaws like Robin Wood (read: Hood) roamed the Forest Sauvage and knights spent their entire lives questing mysterious beasts. This is the first part of the Once and Future King series of novels. A story of a young boy, Wart, who has no idea who he really is, and the happenings, lessons, and trials that lead to him becoming a leader. Why it's on the list This is the timeless story of a young King Arthur, except with wonderful depth and awe-inspiring detail. It describes the magic of being young and exploring the fields and rivers around your home, and talks of fights between nasty witches and pleasant wizards. White really knows how to get you to step into another world. His spectacular descriptions sweep you into the world of Medieval England and revitalizes the age-old story in an endearingly fresh way. The characters of Merlyn, Arthur, King Pellinore and the steadfast Sir Ector flourish in such a genuine and whimsical way that the story comes to life, making it far better than the original narrative. You actually feel like you are sitting in the grass on a summer's day watching people joust. White does not only describe the legend of the sword in the stone, he tells the story of the young man who actually pulled it out. He takes us further back in time and tells us about how this young man grew up. We begin to understand a little more how Arthur was destined for greatness, and what events there were that impacted and tempered him for this magical fate. The entire book is perfectly peppered with Charm, wit and humor. Read if you like Books about King Arthur and all his adventures. It is filled with magic and strange creatures aplenty. It is not just fun for children, but the whole family!