The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights From the Winchester Manuscripts of Thomas Malory and Other Sources

The first book that John Steinbeck read as a child wasLe Morte d'Arthur. As an adult, he modernized the stories of King Arthur magnificently, bringing the tales to life for readers young and old. As John Gardner wrote, "[Steinbeck] embellishes Malory's spare legend with a richness of detail that transforms the vision, makes it no one but Steinbeck's."

John Steinbeck (1902-68) was the author of several works of nonfiction and many novels, including The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1962.

"[Steinbeck] embellishes Malory's spare legend with a richness of detail that transforms the vision, makes it no one but Steinbeck's." --John Gardner, The New York Times Book Review

"Steinbeck's tales could bring readers of all ages close to Arthurian times . . . The bright pageantry of the tales, the repeated violence that paradoxically led to the birth of chivalry, the magic of Merlin and the power of women--all are unforgettable." --Anstiss Drake, Chicago Daily News

"Steinbeck has marvelously managed to retain the flavor and sense of romance and remoteness of the origianl stories while at the same time, making them accessible to modern readers." --E. L. Dachslager, The Houston Post