Reviews

The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights by John Steinbeck

artyemis's review against another edition

4.0

<< Nel cimitero presso la chiesa, nel punto più vicino all'altare maggiore, venne veduto un grande blocco di marmo e nel marmo affondava un'incudine entro la quale era conficcata una spada. In lettera d'oro stava scritto:
chiunque estragga questa spada dal marmo e dall'incudine sarà Re di tutta l'Inghilterra. >>

guinness74's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.5

I am a Steinbeck fan, and this is by far my least favorite of his works. Steinbeck left this unfinished apparently…probably bored by it, as I was. However, he was apparently excited about the prospect of creating Arthurian legends. Alas, I was not impressed, and I nearly left this unfinished myself. 

obscuredbyclouds's review against another edition

4.0

I found this hard to get through in the beginning, and was completely hooked by the end - sadly, Steinbeck never finished this. I think the quality of the segments varies, and it feels a little strange to read something that the author never considered finished himself. I wouldn't want someone criticize my writing on a first or second draft. With that said, some of the earlier sections were not that engaging to me. I really didn't find Merlin interesting, for example. These parts felt a bit like reading the Bible or Icelandic sagas. Kind of cool, but very detached and not thrilling.

The Lancelot chapters on the other hand were super engaging. As was the chapter on Gawain. Both times I wished they were longer.

I have never read any other book about King Arthur, so I can't compare this retelling (honestly, the closest I've come is rewatch Monthy Python & The Holy Grail a bunch of times). But I can speak on its literary merit - I was seriously bummed when the book was over.

catharmonica's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

ginbottle's review against another edition

adventurous funny informative inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Highly readable tales of mediaeval derring-do and old ideas of the good life. Gets better and fuller as you progress. And although Steinbeck never completed his rewrite of Malory he does leave us the letters describing his own literary adventure.

wistfulpigeon's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

cogsofencouragement's review against another edition

3.0

Not what I was expecting.


Theme of men are stupid and women are evil over and over and over again. I thought it would be much more romantic with brave men and women worthy of the fight. Not so much.

jammasterjamie's review against another edition

3.0

It would have been more enjoyable if he'd finished it...

indigo78180's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Steinbeck sticks closely to Mallory’s version of things, but he does work to elucidate some things and occasionally adds his own embellishments. I greatly enjoyed reading his letters to his editors, and I appreciate his efforts more after doing so. I don’t think I necessarily gained more from this than I already got from Malory, but Steinbeck’s “translation” into more modern language is definitely more accessible than Malory.

emiyawaffles's review against another edition

challenging medium-paced

• Strong character development? No

3.25