LA MUERTE DEL REY ARTURO

De autor desconocido y finalizada
muy probablemente en torno a 1230,
LA MUERTE DEL REY ARTURO
constituye la última de las
tres narraciones que, con el título colectivo
de «Lanzarote en prosa», cierra
el ciclo de leyendas artúricas conocido
como la Vulgata.

Continuación
directa de la «Demanda del Santo
Graal», forma, sin embargo, una unidad
cerrada y perfectamente estructurada
en la que se relatan los amores
adúlteros de la reina Ginebra con Lanzarote,
la venganza de Galván, la traición de
Modred, la batalla del llano de Salebieres,
la muerte del Rey Arturony, finalmente, la
penitencia de Lanzarote y su redención.

La narración, interrumpida por muy pocos
episodios accesorios (entre ellos el bellísimo
de la doncella de Escalot), se desarrolla
en un plano más realista y los elementos
mágicos quedan reducidos al mínimo.

Los personajes adquieren dimensiones
propiamente humanas; el
amor, la ambición y la envidia guían
sus acciones hacia un destino fatal y
de proporciones trágicas. La muerte
del rey Arturo representa la conclusión
de una época de brillantes torneos
y hazañas sobrehumanas; la visión
fatalista del ocaso del legendario reino
de Logres y de la Tabla Redonda
permea el relato de una melancolía
que ha inspirado desde las novelas
de Walter Scott hasta las reelaboraciones
de Tennyson y, más modernamente,
de Steinbeck. Pero si-como
observa CARLOS ALVAR, prologuista
y traductor de la presente edición-
la intención del autor fue acabar con
toda esperanza de reinstauración de
un mundo caballeresco, «no consiguió
lo que pretendía, pues el fin de la Mesa
Redonda hace aparecer por el Occidente
medieval una legión de caballeros
andantes que recorren toda la
tierra conocida: son los Guirones,
Palamedes, Amadises, Palmerines y
otros tantos que acaban enloqueciendo
a los lectores de sus aventuras».

We have a very realistic version of the end of Arthur's life here. No wondrous magical or religious episodes distort this account. Is this the origin of the detail of throwing Excaliber back into the lake? I think this 1230's redaction could be it. I've read it three times, over the years. ( )

Penguin Classics books are always a hit with me. Every time I decide to pick up one of these books, I come out completely satisfied. It was no different with this last purchase.

Sitting quaint in my favourite used book store, this tiny book ( at only $1.99) was just waiting for the right person to pick it up and give it a chance. I’m so glad I did!

The Death of King Arthur, is the famous king's tale written by an unknown author - ‘but most probably a Frenchman from Champagne, writing around 1230-35.’ This in itself got me so curious, that I just had to read it- if not for the story but at least for the flavor of reading something so old. I love the feeling of period writing because it really sets the mood for the piece. This one did not disappoint.

In The Death Of King Arthur, we read about all the great knights: Lancelot, Sir Gawain, Hector, Mador… Not only do we get the exciting battles fought for principle and reputation, there is so much gallantry, respect, honor and chivalry that make this book a precious piece of literature. Arthur’s beautiful Queen is at the center of this story, causing much dilemma between both Arthur and Lancelot.

The book is straightforward and although there are no flowery parts or picturesque moments or scenes, in its purity, this story does not need embellishing. What a refreshing read! Seemingly told by the author, as though he were narrating, I came to accept abrupt changes in the story that simply went like this: For example,

‘And now the story stops telling of Bors and his company, and returns to Lancelot…’

As strange and cut-off as this may seem, something that would never work in today’s writing, but considering the source and the time, it still works perfectly in this novel.

All I can say is that I really enjoyed reading this amazing tale, although simplistic in its form and told in such a straightforward manner, The Death of King Arthur managed to capture my interest and my heart. It made me remember why it is that I love Penguin Classics so much. Simply beautiful. ( )