Summary
Le Morte d'Arthur (1485), compiled and adapted by Sir Thomas Malory, is the most famous prose rendering of the Arthurian legends in English.
Written during the 15th century and first published by William Caxton, the work draws from French romances and earlier chronicles, weaving together the tales of King Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table, Queen Guinevere, Merlin, Sir Lancelot, and the quest for the Holy Grail.
Volume 1 introduces Arthur’s rise to the throne, the establishment of Camelot, and the early adventures of his knights.
It covers tales such as Arthur’s conception and birth, the drawing of the sword from the stone, Arthur’s wars of consolidation, and the exploits of knights like Balin, Pellinore, and Gawain.