Idylls of the King

From the influential English poet, a collection of poems featuring the legendary King Arthur, a hero imbued with the values of the Victorian age

Alfred Tennyson had a lifelong interest in the legend of King Arthur and after the huge success of his poem "Morte d'Arthur" he built on the theme with this series of twelve verses, written in two periods of intense creativity over nearly twenty years. Idylls of the King traces the story of Arthur's rule, from his first encounter with Guinevere and the quest for the Holy Grail to the adultery of his Queen with Launcelot and the King's death in a final battle that spells the ruin of his kingdom.

Told with lyrical and dreamlike eloquence, Tennyson's depiction of the Round Table reflects a longing for a past age of valour and chivalry. And in his depiction of King Arthur he created a hero who embodies the highest ideals of manhood and kingship.

Penguin Classics is the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world, representing a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.