Sir Thomas Malory's Morte Darthur : A New Modern English Translation Based on the Winchester Manuscript (Renaissance and Medieval Studies)

Dorsey Armstrong (English and Medieval literature, Purdue) parts ways with earlier editors and translators by seeing in the 15th-century Middle English prose epic a coherent and unified narrative rather than a loose collection of popular tales surrounding King Arthur, who was already by then a legendary hero of ancient days. She argues that Malory portrayed ideal knightly behavior as a counter to the deterioration of honor or even bare honesty in the politics and society around him. The Winchester manuscript, she says, is the most complete and accurate version, though she does keep in mind variants from others, especially those incorporated into Caxton's printed edition. Annotation 2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)