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gab_free_'s review against another edition
4.0
A classic I felt obligated to read but ended up enjoying far more than I anticipated! Witty and insightful, I'd recommend this to anyone interested in Arthurian legend or the origins of modern heroic fantasy.
For the uninitiated (like me), The Once and Future King is a collection of four novels about the life and times of King Arthur.
The first novel (focused on Arthur as a boy who knows nothing of his royal heritage and the source material for Disney's The Sword in the Stone) was absolutely delightful. The second (focused on Arthur as a young king) was very good. The third, on Lancelot, was my least favorite. The fourth (on the betrayal by Mordred and Arthur's death) was an improvement compared to the third with some memorable highlights, but didn't reach the heights of the first two novels.
While fantastic and interesting choices are made in the characterization of nearly every character in the Arthurian canon, Lancelot is a bit of a mopey bore in this book who keeps making the same mistakes but not in a way that I could empathize with.
The author/narrator is very present in this book, which is often hilarious and brings the Arthurian themes into the modern day. However, it can also get a bit preachy which can be a bit uncomfortable. White is very much an English man from the first half of the 20th century. When I was able to think of the step-ins to the story by White as the reflections of a narrator, like a grandfather telling this story to their grandchild, (and which I believe was White's intended style) I had a much better time.
For the uninitiated (like me), The Once and Future King is a collection of four novels about the life and times of King Arthur.
The first novel (focused on Arthur as a boy who knows nothing of his royal heritage and the source material for Disney's The Sword in the Stone) was absolutely delightful. The second (focused on Arthur as a young king) was very good. The third, on Lancelot, was my least favorite. The fourth (on the betrayal by Mordred and Arthur's death) was an improvement compared to the third with some memorable highlights, but didn't reach the heights of the first two novels.
While fantastic and interesting choices are made in the characterization of nearly every character in the Arthurian canon, Lancelot is a bit of a mopey bore in this book who keeps making the same mistakes but not in a way that I could empathize with.
The author/narrator is very present in this book, which is often hilarious and brings the Arthurian themes into the modern day. However, it can also get a bit preachy which can be a bit uncomfortable. White is very much an English man from the first half of the 20th century. When I was able to think of the step-ins to the story by White as the reflections of a narrator, like a grandfather telling this story to their grandchild, (and which I believe was White's intended style) I had a much better time.
emperfectionist's review against another edition
4.0
My dad read this to me as a child, and I decided to reread it! This story has humor, adventure, history, philosophy, magic, and wonderful nature descriptions, it's a pretty ideal read if you enjoy any of those things.
yeehaw_agenda's review against another edition
3.0
The first and fourth books in this epic were excellent - one a satire on nobility, the other a commentary on what we consider just versus what we think is right. While the middle two sections certainly had good narrative and necessary context, they were far too long and meandering, and left me wondering what the point of them was.
mberns's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
abysscourier's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
doublelisha's review against another edition
4.0
I came to leave a review and Corrine has already left the review that I would leave if I were eloquent and thoughtful.
My only other thoughts are about the portion of the book that discusses the seventh sense, which I have copied out so that I can consider again.
“You can’t teach a baby to walk by explaining the matter to her logically—she has to learn the strange poise of walking by experience. In some way like that, you cannot teach a young woman to have knowledge of the world. She has to be left to the experience of the years. And then, when she is beginning to hate her used body, she suddenly finds that she can do it. She can go on living—not by principle, not by deduction, not by knowledge of good and evil, but simply by a peculiar and shifting sense of balance which defies each of these things often. She no longer hopes to live by seeking the truth—if women ever do hope this—but continues henceforth under the guidance of a seventh sense. Balance was the sixth sense, which she won when she first learned to walk, and now she has the seventh one—knowledge of the world.”
It goes on in some detail afterwards and expands on this idea, and I am grateful. When I was learning my seventh sense, if I had read this, it wouldn’t have mattered, you can’t teach a baby to walk by explaining it logically! But now that it is past, and I am safely and automatically balancing along toward the inevitable grave, I am grateful for an explanation that sensibly explains the learning, so that I will not forget.
My only other thoughts are about the portion of the book that discusses the seventh sense, which I have copied out so that I can consider again.
“You can’t teach a baby to walk by explaining the matter to her logically—she has to learn the strange poise of walking by experience. In some way like that, you cannot teach a young woman to have knowledge of the world. She has to be left to the experience of the years. And then, when she is beginning to hate her used body, she suddenly finds that she can do it. She can go on living—not by principle, not by deduction, not by knowledge of good and evil, but simply by a peculiar and shifting sense of balance which defies each of these things often. She no longer hopes to live by seeking the truth—if women ever do hope this—but continues henceforth under the guidance of a seventh sense. Balance was the sixth sense, which she won when she first learned to walk, and now she has the seventh one—knowledge of the world.”
It goes on in some detail afterwards and expands on this idea, and I am grateful. When I was learning my seventh sense, if I had read this, it wouldn’t have mattered, you can’t teach a baby to walk by explaining it logically! But now that it is past, and I am safely and automatically balancing along toward the inevitable grave, I am grateful for an explanation that sensibly explains the learning, so that I will not forget.
loveangle's review against another edition
4.0
dense but still accessible, surprisingly witty. I didn't know that the first book was the inspiration for Disney's The Sword in the Stone, which is a pretty faithful adaptation. lots of beauty, romance, and high ideals.
chiron_00's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
joodi's review against another edition
3.0
For the purposes of this review I thought up alternate titles for the four volumes included in this book
The Sword in the Stone: this one should either be called Arthur Has Sexual Chemistry With A Goose or Sir Kay On Smack Cam
The Queen of Air and Darkness: Sweet Home Camelot seems most appropriate to describe what was a most inappropriate jump-scare
The Ill-Fated Knight: Let's simply call this one Mr.Steal Thou Maidan
The Candle in the Wind: In honor of Mordred this one would more accurately be called The Sassy Man Revolution
Patiently waiting for the fifth volume wherein the Questing Beast finds love on a medieval game show
The Sword in the Stone: this one should either be called Arthur Has Sexual Chemistry With A Goose or Sir Kay On Smack Cam
The Queen of Air and Darkness: Sweet Home Camelot seems most appropriate to describe what was a most inappropriate jump-scare
The Ill-Fated Knight: Let's simply call this one Mr.Steal Thou Maidan
The Candle in the Wind: In honor of Mordred this one would more accurately be called The Sassy Man Revolution
Patiently waiting for the fifth volume wherein the Questing Beast finds love on a medieval game show
heit0119's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0