Title: Idylls of the King
Author: Alfred Tennyson
Publisher: Allyn and Bacon Date: 1923
I've enjoyed Tennyson's poetry in the Highwayman and the Lady of Shallot. I suspect that this will be a fairly delightful, romantic rendition of the Authurian myth cycle.
Last night, I read roughly half of this book. Tennyson is clearly drawing off of Mallory's Le Mort Du Arthur for his story elements. His false archaic language is pleasantly quaint, even if a bit forced or awkward at times.
These tales are easy to read but somewhat lacking in substance. He manages to carry the story for a little way and then falls flat. It seems that Tennyson struggles and becomes more focused on the language then the story. It's clear that this was what Monty Python was mocking in their movie The Quest for the Holy Grail.
Note: This was originally published on Livejournal Aug 23, 2006. It is a typed version from a 2002 entry in my written reading journal. I had to correct a few spellings because of how horrid they were.
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