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12th out of 214 books
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Idylls of the King
Tennyson had a life-long interest in the legend of King Arthur and after the huge success of his poem "Morte d'Arthur" he built on the theme with this series of twelve poems, written in two periods of intense creativity over nearly twenty years. "Idylls of the King" traces the story of Arthur's rule, from his first encounter with Guinevere and the quest...more
Mass Market Paperbound, 384 pages
Published
September 5th 1989
by Penguin Books Limited
(first published 1885)
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I have a beautiful, old edition of this book. I wish I could show you.
On the book marker, in old-fashioned cursive, it says,
Merry Christmas
To Lottie
from
Dora
Update:
This is a truly beautiful work. Enchanting. Mesmerizing, really.
There is just one little thing though...
I'd heard rumblings of this book being misogynistic. Loving Tennyson as I do, I refused to believe it. Basically, I read the book like this:
"Well, that's not necessaril...more
On the book marker, in old-fashioned cursive, it says,
Merry Christmas
To Lottie
from
Dora
Update:
This is a truly beautiful work. Enchanting. Mesmerizing, really.
There is just one little thing though...
I'd heard rumblings of this book being misogynistic. Loving Tennyson as I do, I refused to believe it. Basically, I read the book like this:
"Well, that's not necessaril...more
view all 12 comments
Just finished this one for my Victorian Literature seminar. I will admit that the prospect of reading a 300+ page long poem was daunting, but well, well worth it. I have always admired Tennyson's work. This one is a bit different though. The language is not as resonant, but the imagery is spectacularly beautiful. Also, lots of lovely moments of universal truth within the story. They pop out of nowhere sometimes. The characters have a liquid, uncertain quality, bringing a whole lot of ambi...more
There are certain books, or authors, that don't hold up to modern political correctness. Mark Twain is one of them; Huckleberry Finn is constantly under threat to be banned from American schools. Robert E. Howard's protagonists routinely face villains who embody the worst of early twentieth century stereotypes. But Tennyson, in Idylls of the King comes under fire for his female characters in his series of epic poems concerning King Arthur and his valorous knights. What is not generally kept in m...more
I started out kinda dreading this novel because of a) it's thickness and b) its confusingly written self, but as I read it and (cough used some helpful "guides") I have grown to long to read it. It is exciting and interesting and sophisticated. As of now (I am in Balan and Balin) I like it. (November 14)
I have now finished this novel and I enjoyed it. My favorite stories were Gareth and Lynette, The Marriage of Geraint, Geraint and Enid, Lancelot and Elaine, Pelleas and Ett...more
I have now finished this novel and I enjoyed it. My favorite stories were Gareth and Lynette, The Marriage of Geraint, Geraint and Enid, Lancelot and Elaine, Pelleas and Ett...more
whereas the poetry itself may be strong, the characterizations of the women seems more to be a matter of tennyson working out his dark side, a.k.a. masculinity and power structure esp. when i compare these characters to marion zimmer bradley's characterizations. this book, for me, has been a timely education in the "old ways" i.e. when men ruled the world and truly thought they were superior to women. funny.
tennyson's version of women characters, as being mere decorations o...more
tennyson's version of women characters, as being mere decorations o...more
I enjoyed Tennyson's artistry of the Arthurian legends, some phrases of which were simply beautiful English. I appreciated Tennyson's glorified, near sainted, dipiction of the Arthurian stories, but in light of Malory's record of events, it seemed too picturesque. On the other end of the spectrum, Malory's rendering felt brutal - as brutal as many of the knights' actions. I understand Malory's purpose to withhold personal commentar or perform any clean-up, but I was shocked to re-read after so m...more
I have read my softcover copy so many times it is falling apart. I really need to get a nice, illustrated, hard cover. I read this book several times a year. And sob hysterically at the end so that I can hardly finish. The saddest lines for me are (spoken by Arthur to Guinevere visiting her in the nunnery before the final battle with Modred):
"Thou hast not made my life so sweet to me,
That I the King should greatly care to live;
For thou hast spoilt the purpose of my l...more
"Thou hast not made my life so sweet to me,
That I the King should greatly care to live;
For thou hast spoilt the purpose of my l...more
I. Hated. This. Book. So. Much.
Some of the stories were better than others.
I skipped the second story about Geraint and Enid, as he had no redeeming qualities and she was stuck in a crappy marriage; everything bad that happened in that story could have been avoided if she just talked to him.
All of the women in these stories were either caged songbirds or portrayed as villains. Or, you know, to mix it up a little a few were both. The only women who proactively did stuff tended to die.
I don't kn...more
I skipped the second story about Geraint and Enid, as he had no redeeming qualities and she was stuck in a crappy marriage; everything bad that happened in that story could have been avoided if she just talked to him.
All of the women in these stories were either caged songbirds or portrayed as villains. Or, you know, to mix it up a little a few were both. The only women who proactively did stuff tended to die.
I don't kn...more
“If Malory's "Le Morte D'Arthur" is the skeleton of Arthurian literature then Tennyson's "Idylls of the King” is its flesh and blood”, I’ve seen this praising phrase in several places and it’s quite true. This is an epic poem containing twelve loosely connected stories/poems narrating the adventures and romances of the King Arthur and the knights of Camelot, so what’s not to love.
Each section deals with story a knight or several knights of King Arthur's court. Their a...more
Each section deals with story a knight or several knights of King Arthur's court. Their a...more
Baley Whary
rated it
Recommends it for:
anyone
Recommended to Baley by:
teacher
Shelves:
victorian-fantasy-and-adventure
Idylls of the King is Tennyson's take on Malory's version of the stories of Arthur. It is well told, very poetic, and quite an interesting read. Tennyson "cleans up" Malory's version (leaving out any blatant sexual scenes), but it doesn't seem to lose any value because of that. We still see that Guinevere and Lancelot have an affair (though it isn't explicitly detailed), and there is still murder, vengeance, love, loyalty, and valor to round out the story.
The books (idylls)...more
The books (idylls)...more
This particular book is not an edition of Tennyson's work, Idylls of the King, as a whole. It's an abridged version, essentially, with selections from Tennyson's poetry contextualised by brief prose. The reason I have this edition is, of course, the illustrations included, those done by Gustave Doré. Many of them are really spectacular, capturing perfectly the mood of the pieces and scenes.
Tennyson's poetry is, of course, powerful and problematic, but I'll review that in itself another...more
Tennyson's poetry is, of course, powerful and problematic, but I'll review that in itself another...more
I could give you a hundred literary reasons to read these poems. I could talk about how Arthur mirrors Tennyson's own time. I could point out that Tennyson is one of the greats. The real reason why I love this book, why I love these poems is simply the poem "Gareth and Lynette". There are times when a reader feels truly connected to an author. Not in the sense of the written word being read, but in the sense of learning something about the author that also applies to the reader. Fo...more
This book was every bit as beautiful as I could imagine. I had previously loved and read The Lady of Shalott. Idylls, however, is a testament to his love and knowledge of Arthurian legend.
You'll likely walk away from this book with lots of favorite passages. And you might fall in love with the characters of this legend all over again.
Lancelot - "...a dying fire of madness in his eyes"
Percivale - "Had heaven appear'd so blue, nor earth so gr...more
You'll likely walk away from this book with lots of favorite passages. And you might fall in love with the characters of this legend all over again.
Lancelot - "...a dying fire of madness in his eyes"
Percivale - "Had heaven appear'd so blue, nor earth so gr...more
Okay, not really medieval literature, and not really "classic," but some of the poetry in Tennyson's romanticized versions of these tales had me in tears. Especially the first couple chapters, and "Guinevere." As a lover of medieval lit a lot of it is quite thematically accurate, because there is something particularly stirring about lines like this:
Reign ye, and live and love, and make the world
Other, and may thy Queen be one with thee,
And all this ...more
Reign ye, and live and love, and make the world
Other, and may thy Queen be one with thee,
And all this ...more
Beautiful poetry, a wonderful telling of the Arthurian tales. Tennyson's remarkable poetic genius instills the medieval legends with a unique mystical and intriguing depth that kept me immersed in that world of old, alive with magic and ideals of chivalry. My favorite parts were Merlin and Vivien, the Holy Grail and the Passing of Arthur. Wonderful tapestries of language so eloquently woven together, never bombastic or grandiloquent, but pure and inspired lyricism that defines Tennyson as the gr...more
Awesome (in the older sense of the word). Best blank verse I've read, next to Shakespeare. I had the privilege of writing the essay on Idylls of the King for Omnibus V: The Medieval World (Veritas Press), due out in August 2010. Though I've been through many, many versions of the Arthurian legends, this is still my favourite.
Tennyson's lifelong work, the Idylls of the King is a book-in-poetry recount of the men and women of Camelot, throughout Arthur's reign and immediately following his death. Tennyson's work is rich and heady-- a Victorian epic if ever there was one. Definitely worth checking out or rereading again if it's been a while.
hypothermya
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
anachronistic poets and romantics
I specifically own an edition of this book that was published by The Heritage Press in 1939. This edition was illustrated by one Robert Ball; who has a manner of illustration that is quite detailed and evocative. When I was younger, I was quite in love with romantic poets -- Tennyson and Yeats being the two I best remember -- and when I saw this edition of Idylls of the King I couldn't resist buying it. The illustrations add another element to the already masterful and vivid poems written by ...more
I was surprised to like this book. Don't get me wrong, but Poetry is not my forte and like this is super long Poetry. But the language was beutiful and the stories were great. I really liked it, it was pleasant and interesting, even moving.
Idylls of the King was very different than what I had expected when going into it. I had thought it would be solely about Arthur and Guinevere and a little about his Knights of the Round Table. It was more about knights and people of Camelot. And some of then weren't even from Camelot. Idylls is divided into, I believe, 12 different poems. The last 2 were by far my favorite. Still, this is a must read for Arthurian lovers, as it shows some of Camelot from the knight's point of view. It is very h...more
Gorgeous epic poem about the legend of King Arthur. The Idylls are varied in tone and have merit each on their own, but together they are best. This is my favorite telling of the Arthurian Legend I have read yet.
I have more read in this than read it throughat once. I found I loved Tennyson at a time when I had, quite a bit of time on my hands. Tennyson has a voice unlike any you'll find in contempery writing.
This is the book that led me to believe that Tennyson is overrated. I never went in much for stories about monarchy anyway, and poetry about monarchy does even less for me.
I'm not big into poetry per se, but I adored Idylls of the King. It was my first exposure to the Authurian legends as a young girl, and remains a favorite to this day.
Tennyson holds up the myth of King Aurthur and the Round Table and as a mirror to Victorian England. Like most revolutionary movements Arthur's court begins with lofty morals and high standards for its members. However, the facade decays when Lancelot falls in love with the Queen and the quest for the grail becomes more about greed than religious glory.
Not the easiest read in the world and the fact that it is a really long poem gets annyoing. Be that as it may it is a really go...more
Not the easiest read in the world and the fact that it is a really long poem gets annyoing. Be that as it may it is a really go...more
One of the classic Arthurian accounts, and one that you really have to read, but you can see the Victorian-mentaility sanitizing of the tales. Chivalry is taken to a romanticized level found in few of the other versions.
Rawles
added it
Reread select portions outside of the confines of an English class for funsies. Even more terrible and misogynistic than I remember, but also still so pretty.
Beautiful. I think Graves disliked this because it wasn't really "Arhurian." Whatever. A definite candidate for re-reading in the future.
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“This madness has come on us for our sins.”
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