The Story of King Arthur and Other Celtic Heroes by Padraic Colum
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Colum translates and retells a 14th century Welsh text about King Arthur and some of his knights. With a structure similar to the Arabian Nights, one tale follows another, some connected, others not. Common themes are courtesy and chivalry, performing difficult feats to win maidens, and overthrowing the unjust and rude.
I thought to add this to my collection of Arthur tales for children, but the plot and characters are a bit too foreign and disconnected to be very accessible to the average reader. Arthur fans should read it, but else stick to other classics (Once and Future King, Roger Lancelyn Green's version, e.g.). Colum did his best to make it accessible and nearly pulls it off.
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