Where to start with arthuriana?
I think it really depends on where does someone wish to start: from ancient texts or modern novels? Movies or comics? Personally, I
started with modern novels and I understand that some of the classical stuff may be less fun than modern novel so I think a mix of the two may be the ideal
deal!
I think the most interesting 'classic' texts to read are the three first ones:
Then it’s time for:
Le Morte d’Arthur Volume 1 and Volume 2 (Thomas Malory) which is The Classic of arthuriana because it tries to mix all the previous texts and previous arthurian elements. I'd gladly suggest the Lancelot-Grail and Post-Vulgate but the English translated books are extremely pricey.
For more novels and texts you can download some free texts here:
texts to download
You can also find some other books here:
10 must to read novels
And something about the movies: movies to watch
I think the most interesting 'classic' texts to read are the three first ones:
- (~10th century) Annales Cambriae is very brief and it’s the first (basically) written source.
- (~828) Historia Brittonum (Nennius)
- (~1136) History of the Kings of Britain (Geoffrey of Monmouth) is long but the part about Arthur is only a few pages. And these are the first written sources about arthurian.
- Merlin’s trilogy (Mary Stewart) - This is inspired to Malory but is also very historical in its setting and it has the major themes and events that then you can find also in Malory and in the majority of modern arthurian novels. It’s interesting if you like the character of Merlin and if you like Mordred (he is the main character of “The wicked day” which is the fourth book in the series).
- The Once and Future King (T. H. White) - This is also very inspired to Malory and it’s also the book that inspired the Disney movie “The sword in the stone”. It’s basically a series of four books but if you see that the way the first book is written is not to your liking you can just start from the second book. It’s mostly about Arthur, Merlin, Guinevere and Lancelot.
- Bernard Cornwell’s series. It was my first arthurian book and it’s mostly about an OC but there is a lot of Nimue, Arthur, Guinevere, Galahad and Merlin too. It is very historical and I think it helps in defyining a possible historical setting for arthurian. And it’s not inspired by Malory.
- (~1170/1190) Four Romances (Chrétien de Troyes) basically the man who invented Lancelot.
- (~14th century) Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
- (~15th century) The Wedding of sir Gawain and dame Ragnell
Then it’s time for:
Le Morte d’Arthur Volume 1 and Volume 2 (Thomas Malory) which is The Classic of arthuriana because it tries to mix all the previous texts and previous arthurian elements. I'd gladly suggest the Lancelot-Grail and Post-Vulgate but the English translated books are extremely pricey.
For more novels and texts you can download some free texts here:
texts to download
You can also find some other books here:
10 must to read novels
And something about the movies: movies to watch