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Book Edition

Author: T. H. White Title: The Once And Future King Subtitle: The Complete Edition Publisher:   Harper Collins / Voyager Country: UK Date: 1996 Format: Paperback Genre: Fiction, Fantasy ISBN13 / Barcode:  9780006483014 Total Editions: 3 First Published:   1958 Rating: 10.0  Rate Collection:   I Own It     I Want It  Community:    Price Guide: Valuation Page » Search on eBay This is an affiliate link for which we may be compensated.

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Notes

826 Pages.

Comprised of the books:

The Sword In The Stone
The Witch In The Wood
The Ill-Made Knight
The Candle In The Wind
The Book Of Merlin

Originally published as four books in 1958.
The Book Of Merlin first Published 1977.

This is the first edition comprising all books together.

Primary Edition

Book

T. H. White - The Once And Future King - Collins - Hardcover - UK (1958)

Comments and Reviews

Magic Marmalade 8th Dec 2015		Rated 10/10 A great entry point for anyone looking to get into Arthurian Legend, as it's written in a modern style, as opposed to some of the "Canonical" mediaeval Arthurian texts, which can be a sticky read, with all that dense old English, such as Malory... or has read Tolkien and C.S Lewis, who White was contemporary with, and who work this should be considered as being in the same vein. ...White however, is a better writer than either of them! Some absolutely breath-taking passages, and brilliant devices (talking animals!) to illustrate liberal ideas that the ethos that "Might Is Right" is untrue, and true justice, through a system of laws and good governance is how the human race ought to live (And share this world with other life in the world). Arthur is taught this by being transformed by Merlin on several occasions into various animals, among whom he has to live, in order to understand the different social structures, including the disturbing transformation into a mindless ant in a colony. One device does seem to get the better of White though in that Merlin lives backwards through time from the future to the past, getting younger as the story progresses as it follows the story moving forward in time, and I think he bit off a little more than he could chew working out the logic of this on a couple of occasions. There is always the sticky subject of Lancelot and Guinevere in this story, which will raise uncomfortable questions in younger reader's minds, but it is lightly handled here... But one Scene involving The Orkney boys (Gareth, Gaheris, Mordred) and the slaughter of a Unicorn is graphic, and so potently conjured in the mind by White's descriptive powers that it would disturb a younger reader greatly I think.... and for that reason, this edition would probably be suited to early teens, with versions I believe being available for younger readers in edited form. All in all, a brilliant book. 2 people found this review helpful.   ✔︎ Helpful Review?

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See Also

Book

T. H. White - The Book Of Merlyn - Fontana - Paperback - UK - 0006157254 (1978)

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Book

Guy Gavriel Kay - A Song For Arbonne - Harper Collins / Voyager - Paperback - UK - 0586216774 (1996)

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