The Legends of King Arthur and His Knights

A sword fixed in a stone, waiting for the one true king. A round table where no knight sits above another. A wizard who sees the future, a lady in a lake, and a holy cup sought by the bravest men in the land. The legends of King Arthur are among the most enduring stories in the world, and Sir James Knowles's retelling has carried them to readers for more than a century and a half.

Knowles was a young English architect, and later a well-known editor, when he published this book in 1862 under the title The Story of King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table. Drawing largely on Sir Thomas Malory's fifteenth-century Le Morte d'Arthur, he gathered the sprawling old tales into a single, flowing narrative in clear, dignified prose. He dedicated the book to the poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson, whose Arthurian poems had sparked a new love for the legends in Victorian England.

The story begins with the wondrous birth of Arthur and his secret upbringing, guided by the enchanter Merlin. As a young man, he draws the sword from the stone and is proclaimed king. He receives the sword Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake, marries the beautiful Guinevere, and gathers the noblest knights of the age to his court at Camelot. Readers follow the adventures of Sir Lancelot, the greatest of knights; Sir Gawain, Sir Tristram, Sir Percival, and many others as they battle giants, rescue the oppressed, and test their honor. At the heart of the tales is the quest for the Holy Grail, which only the purest of knights, Sir Galahad, may achieve. And through it all runs the tragic thread of loyalty and love that will one day test the fellowship of the Round Table.

These legends have shaped Western ideas of chivalry, courage, courtesy, and faith for centuries, and they continue to inspire novels, films, and fantasy stories today.

Why read it?

• The legends in one story. Knowles weaves the old tales into a single, readable narrative.
• Knights and quests. Swords, sorcery, tournaments, and adventures fill every chapter.
• The ideals of chivalry. It celebrates courage, loyalty, mercy, and honor.
• The roots of fantasy. Discover the source of so many modern stories of heroes and magic.
• Wonderful for families. It is great for reading aloud and for discussing what makes a true hero.

Why the Comfortable Classics edition?

Comfortable Classics was created to help families build a library worth keeping. Each book in the series shares the same handsome design, a black cover with warm wood-grain bands and a parchment panel. Only the title lettering changes, chosen to suit each book's spirit. Together they make a matching collection that looks beautiful on a shelf and invites you to take the next one down.

Classics meant to be kept, studied, and handed down.