Jared's review
The Once and Future King
by T.H. White
Jared's review
The Once and Future King by T.H. White
Jared's review
rating:
T.H. White's now-classic rendering of the myth of King Arthur. The book encompasses his coming-of-age, his rise to power, his reign as a unifying king, and his fall, not overlooking the traditions that hold that Arthur will one day return.
White's writing is refreshing because it deals with serious themes without feeling too heavy. He has a sort of whimsical prose that works well dealing with a character surrounded by magical legend and mythos. He also pokes fun at himself--most obviously toward the end when Merlin is telling Arthur about all the scribes and writers that will try and tell his story. Merlin briefly takes a jab at a man named White who will try and place Arthur's reign at the same time as William the Conquerer's.
The best parts, in my opinion, are the lessons that Merlin teaches Arthur--not only as a boy, as depicted in the Disney classic The Sword in the Stone, but also as a man. They make you think about life and philosophical principles without bei...more
White's writing is refreshing because it deals with serious themes without feeling too heavy. He has a sort of whimsical prose that works well dealing with a character surrounded by magical legend and mythos. He also pokes fun at himself--most obviously toward the end when Merlin is telling Arthur about all the scribes and writers that will try and tell his story. Merlin briefly takes a jab at a man named White who will try and place Arthur's reign at the same time as William the Conquerer's.
The best parts, in my opinion, are the lessons that Merlin teaches Arthur--not only as a boy, as depicted in the Disney classic The Sword in the Stone, but also as a man. They make you think about life and philosophical principles without bei...more
