Of Swords and Sorcerers: The Adventures of King Arthur and His Knights

Stirring and stately, these nine tales of King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table sparkle with the rich language of professional storytellers. They revive the legends of Merlin's passage to adulthood, young Arthur's drawing of the sword from the stone and the various ascents to Camelot by Guinevere, Lancelot and Galahad. Romance and adventure ring freshly here: ``Arthur's sword was so bright in his enemies' eyes that it gave light like thirty torches.'' And, ``All the beauty and grace under heaven were in the light of Guinevere's eyes.'' Frampton's black-and-white woodcuts, competent but unimaginative, impart an old world flavor. On the other hand, Hodges and Evernden's faithfulness to the sources and carefully considered retellings result in a challenging but not unwieldy read. Ages 10-12. (Apr.)