The Works of Sir Thomas Malory (in 3 Volumes)

Come on, you don't need to read Malory in translation. Only some of the vocab is different, and the grammar. The rest of it is just archaic, and perfectly understandable once you get used to the rhythms. Forget a translation and go straight to the source.

This book had me saying, "I will slee thee!" It was boring at first, but after reading 726 pages during much of my free time for two weeks sophomore year at Mount Holyoke, I lived and breathed Malory. Read it all and become one with King Arthur. The best part is The Book of Sir Tristram De Lyones.

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Basically you should just plan to read the whole thing.

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As far as I'm concerned this is the edition of Malory's _Le Morte D'Arthur_ to read. The Middle English is really not so foreign that it requires 'translation' and even modernizing the spelling seems a bit superfluous to me as I felt the archaic spelling added to my immersion in the stories.

Malory

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is certainly not an easy read however, and his repetitions and digressions can become a bit tiring to the modern reader at times. That said, if you approach the text as a series of linked tales as opposed to one monumental novel (though there is indeed an overall story arc) it is much more easily digested. Many of the greatest moments for me were those that 'strayed' from this overarching narrative and simply told of interesting characters and wonderful scenes. These included the tragic brothers Balin & Balan, Gawain's courteous younger brother Gareth, and Sir Tristram's unlucky rival Palomides.

An enjoyable read and certainly required for any serious student or aficionado of Arthuriana.

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