The Arthurian Book of Days

The legend of King Arthur, the Once and Future King, and the Knights of the Round Table is among the most powerful and durable of myths. It has been expanded and elaborated countless times, in many languages, and appeals as strongly to the romantic imagination of today as it did to the medieval audience for whom it was first set down. The Arthurian Book of Days is a unique way to enter this dramatic, colorful world. It can be consulted throughout the year, recounting the adventures of Arthur and his companions on a daily, seasonal, or annual basis. Many of the stories in the Arthurian cycle are commemorated on the day or days with which they are traditionally associated; each day throughout the year tells a different story or part of a story. Many strands of history and myth are woven into the tales of Arthur: his splendid Fellowship of Knights and their quest for the Holy Grail; his beautiful Queen, Guinevere; and his dearest friend, Sir Lancelot, the Queen's lover. The authors have drawn on the full range of Arthurian manuscripts from all over Europe as well as traditional British tales, presenting the stories in a language that preserves the spirit of the original while appealing to a contemporary audience. Two features allow the reader to follow the stories in strict chronology, should this be desired: there are cross-references at the end of many entries; and there is a chronological listing of all the events in the complete cycle. The Arthurian Book of Days is the first modern book on the Arthurian cycle that directly links the stories with their original, richly decorated medieval illustrations. Over seventy are reproduced in this book in full color, many photographed here for the first time.