Le Morte D'Arthur The Winchester Manuscript

by Malory, Thomas; Cooper, Helen

• ISBN13: 9780192824202
• ISBN10: 0192824201
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-05-14
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

The definitive English version of the stories of King Arthur, Le Morte Darthur was completed in 1469-70 by Sir Thomas Malory, 'knight-prisoner'. In a resonant prose style, Malory charts the tragic disintegration of the fellowship of the Round Table, destroyed from within by warring factions.Recounting the life of King Arthur, the knightly exploits of Sir Lancelot du Lake, Sir Tristram, Sir Gawain, and the quest for the Holy Grail, Le Morte Darthur depicts the contradictions that underscore the Fellowship's chivalric ideals. A pervading tension cumulates in the revelation of Lancelotand Guenivere's illicit passion, and in Arthur's powerlessness to prevent a related outbreak of violence and revenge. This generously annotated edition is based on the authoritative Winchester manuscript and represents what Malory wrote more closely than the first version printed by William Caxton. Intelligently abridged from the original to make a single substantial volume, the translation is supplemented by afine Introduction, a Glossary, and extensive Notes

Table of Contents

Introduction	vii	(16)
Note on the Text	xxiii	(4)
Select Bibliography	xxvii	(4)
Chronology of Arthurian Material to 1500	xxxi	(1)
Glossary of Recurrent Words	xxxii
LE MORTE DARTHUR
FROM THE MARRIAGE OF KING UTHER UNTO KING ARTHUR How Uther Pendragon begot the Noble Conqueror King Arthur	3	(79)
The Tale of Balin and Balan	33	(17)
The Wedding of King Arthur	50	(8)
Of Nenive and Morgan le Fay	58	(24)
THE NOBLE TALE BETWIXT KING ARTHUR AND LUCIUS THE EMPEROR OF ROME	82	(13)
A NOBLE TALE OF SIR LANCELOT DU LAKE	95	(25)
THE TALE OF SIR GARETH OF ORKNEY	120	(49)
THE BOOK OF SIR TRISTRAM DE LYONESSE	169	(141)
Of Sir Galahad, Sir Lancelot's son	281	(12)
Of Sir Lancelot	293	(11)
Of Sir Tristram and of Sir Palomides	304	(6)
THE NOBLE TALE OF THE SANGRAIL	310	(93)
Of Sir Galahad	321	(6)
Of Sir Gawain	327	(2)
Of Sir Lancelot	329	(6)
Of Sir Percival de Gales	335	(11)
Of Sir Lancelot	346	(5)
Of Sir Gawain and Sir Ector	351	(6)
Of Sir Bors de Ganis	357	(16)
Of Sir Galahad	373	(15)
Of Sir Lancelot	388	(7)
Of Sir Galahad	395	(8)
THE TALE OF SIR LANCELOT AND QUEEN GUENIVERE	403	(65)
THE DEATH OF ARTHUR	468	(60)
APPENDIX Caxton's Preface	528	(3)
Explanatory Notes	531	(36)
Index of Characters	567