Arthur, High King of Britain

by Michael Morpurgo, Michael Foreman (Illustrator)

Overview

No one believed that he could make it there and back again alive, so when a boy sets out to hike across the sea bed at low tide to an island not too far offshore, he is determined to prove a point. A short doze in the sunshine on the island and a fast-moving fog, however, leaves him in dire straits.

Trapped on a sandbank, he fears for his life as the sea closes in all around him. He is a strong swimmer, but the sea current is certain to drag him down into its depths. The last thing that he remembers in the cold, dark water is hoping that Heaven will be warm, dry and bright. Then he awakens in a bed covered with animal skins, a roaring fire burning in a grate that is framed by walls of stone. He is in a grand hall and sitting by the fire is an old man with his dog. The old man is the legendary warrior King Arthur, and as he recovers by the fire, the boy hears the most magnificent stories of heroic knights and deeds of great chivalry, but also bewitchment, evil and betrayal at the king’s court in Camelot.

Michael Morpurgo’s captivating and imaginative retelling of the story of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table is accompanied by the stunning illustrations created by Michael Foreman. Together they succeed in presenting the well-known legends in a way that is both captivating to read and a delight to the eye.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781786750310
Publisher:	Gemini Books Group
Publication date:	05/01/2018
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.10(d)
Lexile:	760L (what's this?)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Michael Morpurgo, OBE, has written more than100 books, including the international bestseller War Horse. Michael Foreman's numerous books for children have earned him widespread recognition as one of the world's best-loved illustrators.

Editorial Reviews

"Beautifully presented and certain to attract browsers. It is Morpurgo's faithfulness to the original stories, however, and the fine writing that captures all the adventure, drama, and tragedy that will engage readers." —Booklist


"Morpurgo’s imaginative retelling of the story of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table is accompanied by stunning illustrations created by Michael Foreman. This is a handsomely produced new hardback edition.” —Achuka
 


“Fantastic stories, retold by a master storyteller—what could be better? The stories are beautifully told, the perfect introduction to these enduring tales; they will engage readers and stimulate their interest. Michael Foreman's beautiful illustrations set the scene to perfection.” —Parents in Touch
 


“Retold in Morpurgo's exquisite prose, it's a dazzling mix of amazing chivalry, bravery and magical legend fused together with the most amazing illustrations by Michael Foreman.” —Read it, Daddy!

From the Publisher

Gr 3-7-The legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table is retold by Michael Morpurgo. This modern re-telling begins in our own century, when a half-drowned boy regains consciousness in a sea cave and discovers his life has been saved by Arthur Pendragon, High King of Britain. Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal

Morpurgo's retelling of nine familiar stories about Arthur Pendragon and the Knights of the Round Table is beautifully presented and certain to attract browsers. It is Morpurgo's faithfulness to the original stories, however, and the fine writing that captures all the adventure, drama, and tragedy that will engage readers. Arthur himself tells the tales to a 12-year-old boy, who awakes in Arthur's cave after atempting to walk the seabed to the Eastern Isles. As the boy recovers, he learns how Arthur became king, hears the legend of Excalibur and the adventures of the knights, and finds out about the end of Camelot. Although the Green Knight appears in armor when he is described wearing different attire, Foreman's hazy watercolors are usually a perfect complement to the dreamy, bygone-times quality of the stories. Arthurian retellings abound, but libraries should consider adding Morpurgo's admirable narrative to their collections.

Chris Sherman