内容简介
FromtheincrediblewizadryofMerlintothepassionofSirLancelot,thesetalesofArthurandhisknightsofferepicadventureswiththesupernaturalaswellastimelessbattleswithoutownhumanity.
作者简介
ScholarshavedeterminedthattherewereatleastsixThomasMalorysaliveinthe1400swhenLeMorted'Arthurwaswritten.ConsiderableevidencepointstothelikeliestauthorasoneSirThomasMaloryorMaleoreofNewboldRevellinWarwickshire,whowasborninthefirstquarterofthefifteenthcentury.Amemberofthegentry,hebecameasoldierintheserviceofRichardBeauchamp,EarlofWarwick,withwhomhefoughtinthesiegeofCalaisin1436.Inrecordsoftheperiodheisaccusedofvariouscrimes--includingarmedrobbery,attemptedmurder,andrape--andheissaidtohaveexecutedseveraldramaticescapesfromprison.SeveralthingsaboutMaloryseemindisputable.AsinArthur'stimewhenpost-RomanBritainwasinastateoffiercetribalwar,helivedinanageofgreatunrest.EuropewasstillrecoveringfromtheBlackPlagueandacenturyofwar.InEngland,twopowerfulfamiliesfoughtforthethrone.Althoughhemayhavebeenascoundrel,Malorywasalso,itseemsclear,amanofidealswhobelievedincourageandloyalty,andwhomournedthepassingofchivalry.Incarceratedforlongperiods,hehadmanyhourstofillhisimaginationwithFrenchromancesandtalesofchivalry,volumesofwhichwerereadilyathand.ItisthoughtthatLeMorted'Arthurwaswrittenduringhisimprisonment.Maloryreferredtohimselfasa'knight-prisoner.'Withamilitaryman'spassionforthedetailsofconquest,aprisoner'ssenseofinjustice,andapenitent'sdesireforredemption,hededicatedhimselfwholeheartedlytothisretellingoftheArthurianlegends.SirThomasMalorydied,itispresumed,around1471.RobertGravesisconsideredtobeoneofthegreatestwritersofthe20thcentury.Hewrotemorethan100books,includingGoodbyetoAllThat,I,Claudius,andTheWhiteGoddess.ScottAshleyisalecturerinhistoryattheUniversityofNewcastleuponTyne.ChristopherCannon,FellowofGirtonCollegeandUniversitySeniorLecturerintheFacultyofEnglish,UniversityofCambridge
