{"product_id":"the-death-of-king-arthur-9780140455656","title":"The Death of King Arthur","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eA gripping retelling of the timeless epic of romance, enchantment and adventure, Peter Ackroyd''s \u003ci\u003eThe Death of King Arthur \u003c\/i\u003erecasts Sir Thomas Malory''s \u003ci\u003eLe Morte d''Arthur\u003c\/i\u003e in clear, compelling modern English prose, published in Penguin Classics.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e''In the old wild days of the world there was a King of England known as Uther Pendragon; he was a dragon in wrath as well as in power ...''\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBorn with the help of Merlin''s magic, blessed with the sword of Excalibur, Arthur becomes King of a troubled England, beginning a golden age of chivalry at the court of Camelot. But his reign is soon to be torn apart by violence, revenge and tragedy ...\u003cbr\u003eSir Thomas Malory''s \u003ci\u003eLe Morte d''Arthur\u003c\/i\u003e made the legend of King Arthur immortal. Now Peter Ackroyd''s retelling brings his timeless story of love, heroism and betrayal to new life for our times.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSir Thomas Malory (c.1405-1471) was a knight and estate owner in the mid 15th century, who spent many years in prison for political crimes as well as robbery. He wrote \u003ci\u003eLe Morte d''Arthur\u003c\/i\u003e, the first great English prose epic, while imprisoned in Newgate. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePeter Ackroyd (b. 1949) is an award-winning writer and historian. Formerly literary editor of \u003ci\u003eThe Spectator\u003c\/i\u003e and chief book reviewer for the \u003ci\u003eThe Times\u003c\/i\u003e, he is the author of novels such as \u003ci\u003eHawksmoor\u003c\/i\u003e (1985) and \u003ci\u003eThe House of Doctor Dee \u003c\/i\u003e(1993), as well as non-fiction including\u003ci\u003e Dickens: Public Life and Private Passion\u003c\/i\u003e (2002), \u003ci\u003eLondon: The Biography \u003c\/i\u003e(2000), and \u003ci\u003eThames: Sacred River\u003c\/i\u003e (2007). \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIf you enjoyed \u003ci\u003eThe Death of King Arthur\u003c\/i\u003e, you might like Ackroyd''s \u003ci\u003eThe Canterbury Tales\u003c\/i\u003e, also available in Penguin Modern Classics.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e''I admire this version enormously ... This story has to move with both swiftness and dignity, and yoking those two qualities together is not an easy task; but Ackroyd does it with ease''\u003cbr\u003ePhilip Pullman, author of \u003ci\u003eHis Dark Materials \u003c\/i\u003etrilogy \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e''Ackroyd''s lightly trimmed and streamlined \u003ci\u003eLe Morte d''Arthur\u003c\/i\u003e makes it eminently readable'' \u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI thought Peter Ackroyd's Morte d'Arthur was masterful. The quality I admired most was the absolute clarity of the storytelling. This story - or set of stories - has to move with both swiftness and dignity, and yoking those two qualities together is not an easy task; but Ackroyd does it with ease. I think he can probably do anything. I admire this version enormously * Philip Pullman *\u003cbr\u003ePeter Ackroyd's lightly trimmed and streamlined Le Morte d'Arthur makes it eminently readable * Sunday Times *\u003cbr\u003e...the majesty of Malory's book survives too, not least in the final chapters telling of the internal conflicts that destroy the Round Table, the passion of Lancelot and Guinevere, and the destiny that Arthur has had coming to him for a long time: death in battle. This, as retold by Peter Ackroyd, remains a bizarre but thrilling piece of writing. -- Michael Caines * Wall Street Journal *\u003cbr\u003e'In this ingenious decanting of an old wine into a new bottle, [Peter Ackroyd] he has taken a glorious part of our cultural heritage and made it more accessible to the readers of the 21st century. ' -- David Robson * Sunday Telegraph *","brand":"Penguin Books Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47832668668247,"sku":"9780140455656","price":9.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780140455656.jpg?v=1710336497","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/the-death-of-king-arthur-9780140455656","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}