Le Morte Darthur: The Winchester Manuscript (Oxford World's Classics)

I purchased the Oxford World's Classics edition of "Le Morte d'Arthur: The Winchester Manuscript" for a school reading assignment, and I can say with confidence that this is the version you want. The original Old English is present (it was virtually a new language), complete with very useful footnotes to assist with antiquated words and phrases. The story was intriguing, colorful, and poignant (it's a downer, but a well-written one), filled with memorable characters such as Sir Gareth and Sir Launcelot. If you have a taste for classic literature and are looking for a challenge, definitely give "Le Morte d'Arthur" a read, especially with this version.

I received this book one week ahead of the expected shipping date. It was new and in good quality as described. Highly recommend this seller.

The most important collection of medieval chivalric romance literature. Well worth the time. Great combination of nobility, courage, devotion, and humility—all virtues which need to be celebrated today.

The book is exactly what it claims to be: a scholarly edition of the saga/tragedy of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table based upon the Winchester Manuscript. It’s my fault for not researching more carefully, but this edition is heavily abridged which I dislike. Abridged versions are fine if you’re only interested in the core stories, but I really am interested in many stories that were omitted. Special to me are the very elements the scholar left out, namely: exploits of several major (if auxiliary to the main story) quests of certain knights. I mean, come on! Does everyone really think Sir Kay is just a blowhard bully? Yes, thanks to Walt Disney. But he’s a major hero to whom Arthur entrusts the safety of his kingdom while away on campaign! Another painful cut are tactical details of battlefield maneuvers, planning and strategy of companies and armies writ large, with the sole focus of any action scenes being at the micro-level of individual combat between two knights. There is so much more I want to read in Arthur. Just be aware of the version you buy. This was a very inexpensive soft cover printed on cheap pulp paper. It tells a good story, and was easy to finance, but there are other versions out there I’d rather read.

If you are looking to just understand Le Morte, this is a good book. It's written in modern English, due to the fact the author decided he wanted it to mirror the Winchester manuscript as closely as possible, that is, he wanted it to be written in the most easily accessible language of the time. Therefore, the Oxford edition of Le Morte is less bogged down in old spellings and archaic language as other versions of the text.

I got this book for class, so I've only read large segements of it. This copy is an excellent modernization of Malory's text with helpful footnotes and endnotes. The footnotes were always available to explain unfamiliar words without interrupting the flow of the story.

Bought for college student, as described and hoping it helps him get an A. We’ll see.

I enjoy the insights and notes in the back, but it is heavily abridged. I feel like I'm missing out on the full story. I should have researched more before buying.

Perfect

Ordered this for a friend. She was so excited when I came in and shipping was even a month earlier than quoted...super fast shipping! I am happy that she’s happy with her new book and now I’ll write a review on her behalf.

- El libro: El libro tiene un pequeño en el canto que asemeja un corte en sierra, de unos dos centímetros de largo y en unas 20 hojas aproximadamente, además de pequeñas manchas en la tapa trasera. Es una edición de bolsillo, pasta blanca, en papel ligero, de letra y márgenes pequeños que da apariencia saturada.- Dirigido a: Quienes ya tengan experiencia previa en literatura medieval, ya que la redacción y estilo narrativo pueden ser tediosos. No puedo hacer el suficiente énfasis en que no está en inglés moderno sino en inglés medio con grafías modernizadas, así que si no has leído antes a Chaucer u otros autores de la época, prepárate para un dolor de cabeza. Para ejemplificar la situación, cito un fragmento del libro:[How Uther Pendragon begot the Noble Conqueror King Arthur, 25]So they rode till they came to a lake that was a fair water water and broad. And in the midst Arthur was ware of an arm clothed in white samite, that held a fair sword in that hand. 'Lo', said Merlin, 'yonder is the sword that I spoke of'. So with that they saw a damosel going upon the lake. 'What damosel is that? ' said Arthur. 'That is the Lady of the Lake', said Merlin. 'And within that lake there is a great rock, and therein is as fair a palace as any in earth, and richly beseen. And this damosel will come to you anon; and then speak ye fair to her that she may give you that sword.' So anon came this damosel to Arthur and saluted him, and he her again. 'Damosel', said Arthur, 'what sword is that yonder that the arm holdeth above the water? I would it were mine, for I have no sword'. 'Sir Arthur', said the damosel, 'that sword is mine. And if ye will give me a gift when I ask it you, ye shall have it'.No hay un glosario extendido que facilite la lectura para público general y las pocas notas a pie están organizadas de una manera muy extraña. Hay notas al texto pero vienen al final por lo cual deberán tener al menos dos separadores disponibles y lo más molesto es que no van numeradas sino marcadas con un simple asterisco.- No recomendado para: quien quiera que no tenga un nivel de inglés muy avanzado y que haya leído literatura similar antes. Quien quiera historias fluidas y redacción clara y concisa.- El costo: lo comé en $252MXN en precio de oferta y además tenía envío por correo estándar gratis. En español no hay muchas ediciones de este libro pero para poner en contexto, la edición de Siruela "La Muerte de Arturo" está en aproximadamente $900MXN.Valoración: 3 estrellas. Definitivamente lo habría devuelto de no ser que ya he leído antes textos en inglés medio. De otra manera no podría disfrutarlo. El precio fue el mayor atractivo.

GREAT!!!

would recommend