King Arthur's Death
(the Alliterative Morte Arthure)
translated and illustrated by
Michael Smith
King Arthur's Death (the Alliterative Morte Arthure) is one of the finest texts of the Alliterative Revival of the fourteenth century. As well as describing Michael Smith's recent book, this page also provides useful blog posts which point the reader to a deeper understanding of the text and its history.
"This is an excellent book"
Neil Philip
Michael Smith has managed to produce a version that maintains the power and magic of the original, while investing it with a thoroughly modern and viscerally affecting sensibility."
(Shiny New Books - read the full review here)
About the book...
King Arthur's Death (or the Alliterative Morte Arthure), is a fourteenth century masterpiece second only to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, with astonishing pace, action and flow. The book is richly illustrated with over 30 linocuts. The narrative is extraordinary, telling the story of how Arthur's response to the demands of the Roman Emperor Lucius resulted first in his victory over the Emperor before losing his kingdom and many of his prize knights as a consequence of his own vanity and pride. The manuscript on which the this translation is based exists in only one copy, held at Lincoln Cathedral Library. Itself a copy of a lost original dating from between 1375 and 1402, the extant manuscript was transcribed by Robert Thornton in the first half of the fifteenth century. There is evidence to suggest that this alliterative version of Arthur's death was once in much wider circulation; Details in his own work suggest that Malory himself was familiar with the text when writing his own le Morte d'Arthur . Published by Wilton Square Books, the book is lavishly illustrated with the author's own linocuts and contains a detailed introduction and copious notes. It is available from good bookshops everywhere.
See inside...
Summary of the story...
The story begins when Arthur, feasting at Carlisle, is visited by ambassadors from Rome who come bearing a demand from the Roman emperor Lucius that Arthur pays homage for his lands in Britain and Europe. Arthur takes advice from his lords and tells the ambassadors that he rejects this demand and that the emperor will instead pay homage to him. He gives them seven days to leave his kingdom. Arthur builds an army and sails for France, leaving Mordred in charge of the kingdom. On his journey, he dreams of a battle between a bear and a dragon, which is interpreted as meaning he will be victorious. On arrival in France, he does battle with the monstrous Giant of Mont St. Michel and is victorious. After a series of encounters, the scene is set for Arthur to face Lucius in battle; at Soissons, Arthur slays the emperor and sends his body back to Rome. Now Arthur’s pride grows. First, he lays siege to Metz and, in the manner of the Black Prince at Limoges (1370), destroys the city in a vicious assault. He saves the Duchess of Lorraine, but her husband is sent to England to end his days in captivity. Next, Arthur crosses the Alps and takes Como before laying siege to Rome itself. Now Arthur has his second dream in which Lady Fortune shows him toppling like all great leaders before him. Meeting Sir Craddock who has come from Britain in search of him, Arthur learns that Mordred has seized the kingdom for himself, has taken Guinevere for himself and has had children by her. Arthur returns to Britain, defeating Mordred’s fleet at sea. When Gawain decides to attack Mordred ahead of the main party he is slain along with his men. When Arthur learns of this he is distraught. Mordred, realising the game is up, heads west to Cornwall. Arthur’s army eventually defeats Mordred, who is slain, although many of the knights of the Round Table are also killed. Arthur himself is mortally wounded and asks to be taken to Glastonbury where he dies, but not before confessing his sins and forgiving those who have wronged him.
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Contents and bibliographical information
Summary of Contents:
Historical Introduction
A Summary of the Poem
A Note on the Translation
The translation of the Alliterative Morte Arthure
Notes
Glossary
Some Further Reading
Bibliographical Details:
Title: King Arthur's Death - The Alliterative Morte Arthure
Author & Illustrator: Michael Smith
Published by Wilton Square Books, March, 2021
Hardcover, ISBN 978-1-78352-908-7
Alliterative Morte Arthure - blog posts...
