Molly Parkes: Excellent condition. Perfect for my Medieval Romance studies! The book comes in original Middle English and is perfect for pre-translated Arthurian literature.
United Kingdom on Jan 20, 2022
Jia Jun LiuJia Jun Liu: Absolutely worth the purchase. Allow me to clarify. This is the unabridged version of Le Morte d'Arthur, entirely written in Middle English, accompanied with footnotes in Modern English. The cover's design is nothing special but the text conserves the original marginalia and blacklettering of proper names of the 15th century edition of the book. The first copy I received was a little damaged but the seller was nice enough to send me a second copy for free!
Canada on Oct 29, 2021
Snodgrass: First off, this has the usual NCE excellencies: beautifully produced, a joy to handle (although the nice thin pages are very thin), excellent text, and (for the most part) interesting and stimulating critical essays.
There's no need to add to the praise, but there is need for a caveat and a really serious warning.
The caveat: despite the claims - and the approbation of some reviewers - this book does not in any way replicate any part of an "authentic medieval reading experience": we can be certain that no medieval reader ever experienced anything like this, neither physically nor visually. To take only the two major elements reproduced here (and which are the basis for the claim), the rubrication and the paraph marks: the rubrication is in fact not strictly as in the ms but is graphically very different (and some rubrication is omitted entirely); and the paraph marks - which are not in fact used in the MS, being the editorial rendition of the virgules ('//') found there - are used rigidly to force new paragraphs even though, as the editor himself tells us, they are used for more than that in the MS, and forcing new paragraphs on every occurrence has some really...
United Kingdom on Aug 15, 2021
Sebastian Wittstock: I don't know what to say. I keep it simple. I am overwhelmed with joy, happiness and especially satisfaction. The old English style is clearly part of an old French - English language tree. I have coincidentally both, French and English genes and immediately recognised how French would spell or pronounce this when they speak English or that this grammatic sentence is even completely based on French grammar, etc.
This book is complete and more. From a timetable of real history, up to the early 20th century. Language explanation, abbreviation list, and much much more.
This version triggers genetic memory due to our ancestors who have read it, trust me.
If you have just the slightest interest in King Arthur, Camelot, the possibility that this "legend" is based on a true background, etc. then just get this version.
The old English in which it is written is also easy to read and to understand. If you enjoy to have the sometimes present feeling of a French pronunciation of English (not the French language, just how French would pronounce English) in the own thoughts then you will enjoy this old English and original version even more.
Bravo Monsieur Sir...
United Kingdom on Jan 04, 2021
Kevin: If you are interested in the story of Arthur, this is the book for you! The lexicon may be a bit complicated for those who haven't studied Middle English, but it is totally worth it.
United States on Nov 05, 2018
Chris Booth: This is not the most readable edition of Malory, but I am very glad to have it. It is a very careful, scholarly edition, and...well...Malory is Malory. You can't go wrong with this excellent edition.
If you have not yet read Le Morte Darthur, this is a good edition to choose. It gives a flavor of the age in which the book was written than a more modernized edition might, and Le Morte Darthur is one of the most fundamental works in English-language literature. Malory was one of the great story-tellers, and in his retelling of the Arthurian tales there is much delight and pathos. If the English language has a foundational epic, this is it.
United States on Sep 06, 2016
Josh Dobbs: A classic! Here published in the original Middle English, but still remains surprisingly readable. Just to help you along, there's also a glossary in the back with commonly used Middle English phrases and words. A must for any fan of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table! Also, a must for any fan of the Romance genre (knights in shining armor and damsels in distress sort of thing. Norton is the best at what they do, so included is the text and aforementioned glossary, plus several essays offering key historical insight into the Arthurian Legend, Mallory, and all things chivalric.
United States on Feb 18, 2015
kj: Without a doubt this edition is a must have for Arthurian scholars, historians and hardcore fans alike. The Chronology is extensive, helpful and follows all the way through until 1934 when the Winchester Manuscript is discovered. There is a helpful guide to reading Malory's English. Included also is a handy page reference based on the Vinaver (O³).
Please note, this is not 'light' reading. Those interested in a gloss of the totality of Arthurian lit ought seek other, more accessible, editions of Malory.
United States on Apr 15, 2014
Ian M. Slater: A reviewer can propose, but only Amazon disposes.
Way back in 2004, I was unable to review the then-new Norton Critical Edition of "Le Morte Darthur" (Winchester MS version -- see below) because I had already posted a review of the Penguin English Library/Penguin Classics edition (Caxton's text).
In the end, I wound up discussing Shepherd's treatment in a review of the Oxford Standard Authors edition, edited by Eugene Vinaver under the idiosyncratic title of "Malory: Complete Works."
Now that the NCE (Norton Critical Edition) has its own page, I've decided to slightly modify that combined review, and post it where I originally wanted it to go.
This is mainly a review of two old-spelling complete editions of the work commonly known as "Le Morte D'Arthur"; (Anglo-Norman French for "The Death of [King] Arthur"), both available in paperback. The language they are in can be called either very late Middle English, or very early Modern English; other, easier-to-read, editions will also be mentioned below.
For those who are already familiar with the "Morte" from modernized-spelling popular editions, and the existence of two sources for a "definitive"...
United States on Jul 03, 2012
| Sir Thomas Malory's "Le Morte Darthur": A Norton Critical Edition | Romeo and Juliet: Deluxe Club Edition of the Tragic Love Story | Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: A Poetic Reimagining of an Ancient Tale | |
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| B2B Rating |
80
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96
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94
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| Sale off | $4 OFF | $5 OFF | |
| Total Reviews | 4 reviews | 119 reviews | 29 reviews |
| Lexile measure | 1200L | ||
| Item Weight | 1.73 pounds | 4.8 ounces | |
| Dimensions | 5.7 x 1.2 x 9.3 inches | 5.75 x 0.25 x 8.75 inches | |
| Classic Literature & Fiction | Classic Literature & Fiction | ||
| ISBN-10 | 0393974642 | 1505259568 | |
| Language | English | English | English |
| Best Sellers Rank | #106 in British & Irish Poetry#1,781 in Folklore #4,232 in Classic Literature & Fiction | #923 in Shakespeare Works & Criticism#24,616 in Travel #30,358 in Historical Romances | #12 in British Poetry#28 in Ancient, Classical & Medieval Poetry #29 in Epic Poetry |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0393974645 | 978-1505259568 | |
| Folklore (Books) | Folklore | ||
| Customer Reviews | 4.6/5 stars of 97 ratings | 4.6/5 stars of 13,229 ratings | 4.6/5 stars of 1,127 ratings |
| Paperback | 1008 pages | 92 pages | |
| British & Irish Poetry | British & Irish Poetry | ||
| Publisher | W. W. Norton & Company; First Edition | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | W. W. Norton & Company; A New Verse Translation edition |
Japan on Jan 25, 2022