Classics Retold: King Arthur

© Genzoman 2013

BOOM. LOOK AT THAT BADASS. Guys, I am beyond excited to be participating in the Classics Retold Project. A bunch of awesome ladies are hosting this event together so that between May 25th and the whole month of September, each participant will have a chance to choose and read one source classic from a LITERAL CRAP TON of classics in any genre: mythology, ancient tales, medieval legends (HOLLA! That’s where I’m at thanks to the awesome host of those tales, Alyssa from Books Take You Places), to American, Gothic, and British classics AND MORE. Because of the aforementioned crap ton of source material, each lovely hostess is in charge of a different group (details below). After the participant reads the original classic they’ve chosen, they need to find some retellings or other versions of the same tale to read/watch and then chat about it all. If you haven’t guessed from the title of this post, I’m hitching my cart to one of the most epic legends from the British Isles: KING EFFING ARTHUR.

THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING by T.H. White

I know that, technically, I should be reading Thomas Malory’s L’MORTE DE ARTHUR, but THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING is a classic in its own right, and so I’m going to stick with the book that isn’t likely to make me cross-eyed. I am DROOLING with excitement over this. I mean, IT’S KING ARTHUR. If you know me at all, you’ve probably seen me nerd out the BBC show, Merlin, before. That’s because I love this myth, and I am a perpetual sucker for anything Arthurian.

SO. MANY. BOOKS. Friends, there are so many King Arthur retellings/reworkings/reimaginings out there. I’m definitely going to try to read these books, but I’m still on the lookout for others. I’ve already read quite a few YA retellings so I’m looking for ones that are new to me. (Books I’ve already finished: Jane Yolen’s SWORD OF THE RIGHTFUL KING, Meg Cabot’s AVALON HIGH, and Jennifer Anne Kolger’s THE DEATH CATCHERS.)

SONG OF THE SPARROW by Lisa Ann Sandell

I’ve actually owned this book for some time. I bought it not realizing it was a story in verse–not usually my jam. But I was attracted to it because it’s the story of Elaine of Ascolat, the daughter of one of King Arthur’s men, who befriends Arthur’s older sister, Morgan. Elaine is in love with Lancelot, a HUGE secret, and all the shenanigans are thrown into further turmoil when Guinevere arrives. I’m so glad to finally have some motivation to read this one.

OVER SEA, UNDER STONE (The Dark Is Rising #1) by Susan Cooper

I’d never heard of Susan Cooper until just recently, and now I’m all over it. This series is about a family of kids in modern times who basically go after the holy grail and other Arthurian-ish things. Sounds SO GOOD.

WINTER OF MAGIC’S RETURN by Pamela F. Service

YO. This one sounds SO LEGIT. So, there’s been a nuclear holocaust, right? And Merlin is RESURRECTED and, believing that magic has returned as well, goes on a QUEST with two friends to find King Arthur. I MEAN…

THE WINTER PRINCE by Elizabeth Wein

I had no idea until recently that CODE NAME VERITY wasn’t Elizabeth Wein’s first book. But it isn’t, because she’s written a series of Arthurian retellings focusing on Medraut, who I’m thinking is Mordred, the son of a British king named Artos, who I’m thinking is Arthur. Seriously, NOTHING about ANY of these books sounds less than AWESOME to me, so I’m looking forward to this one, too.

Also, TOTALLY WATCHING THIS:

I am SO. EFFING. EXCITED. If you want to participate in this most excellent event, check out the other hosts and their themes!!

Alyssa @ Books Take You Places: Ancient to Renaissance Classics

Brittany @ Book Addict’s Guide: Mythology Classics

Charlene @ Bookish Whimsy: 19th Century and Gothic Classics

Alison @ The Cheap Reader: Children’s Classics

Wendy @ Excellent Library: American & Miscellaneous Classics