Secret Camelot Book

Has not the time come for a re-making and re-issue of the epics by a body of good scholars and writers? Is the time not ripe for an "Authorised Version" using old poems and fables little used by or unbeknown to Malory..? It is our English epic; we out to make more use of it than we do. - John Masefield The figure of King Arthur first came to prominence in the sixth century. He was originally seen as an obscure Celtic hero, but succeeding centuries have given rise to a literary phenomenon which continues unabated today. In fact, the tales of Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table, Merlin and the Holy Grail constitute one of the largest bodies of myth, legend and literature ever to arise from what was initially a collection of oral tales. Though at first they may seem unfamiliar, this collection covers characters and deeds in the best Arthurian tradition. There are early, strange and vibrant versions of later, well-known stories; unusual and intriguing accounts of heroes with familiar names such as Gawain and Lancelot; and stories which touch upon the entire range of human experience - heroism, romance, love, jealousy, hatred and death. Previously known only to historical researchers and scholars, these new versions by Arthurian expert John Matthews are as full of remarkable characters, twists and turns of plot, and adventures as exciting as any modern novel. with superb colour illustrations by Gary Andrews, this retelling of some of the least well-known Arthurian tales provides a fitting sequel to the earlier Blandford title, The Unknown Arthur.