"The Sword in the Stone" by T.H. White is a whimsical and imaginative retelling of the early years of King Arthur, focusing on his childhood as a boy nicknamed Wart. The story follows Wart's adventures and magical transformations under the tutelage of the wizard Merlin, who imparts important lessons through various educational sessions. The plot is described as wild, bizarre, and highly episodic, with absurd and comical characters and situations, set in a world filled with anachronisms and British slang. The book blends elements of comedy, whimsy, and historical references, creating a unique reading experience for the audience.

The writing style of "The Sword in the Stone" is praised for its beautiful prose, creative ideas, clever intertextuality, and rich metaphors. The book is noted for its vivid imagery, detailed descriptions, and fine imagery that evokes an imaginary and magical England. Despite some challenges like dense text, meandering pacing, and archaic language, the book is lauded for its humor, philosophical musings, and wry observations on life and rulership. Overall, the story is seen as a delightful and enjoyable read, offering a different take on the Arthurian legend that captivates readers with its charm and unique storytelling approach.

Characters:

Characters are varied, with Wart as a relatable everyman learning about life, Merlin as a quirky and wise tutor, and Kay as a more pompus counterpart.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is whimsical and humorous, characterized by rich descriptions and a playful use of anachronisms, creating a light-hearted yet reflective narrative.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot is centered around a young Arthur, known as Wart, and his education by Merlin through various animal transformations in a series of amusing and whimsical episodes.

Setting:

The setting is a whimsical medieval England, infused with fantastical elements and playful anachronisms that contribute to the light-hearted tone.

Pacing:

Pacing is episodic with frequent shifts between whimsical episodes and deeper philosophical themes, which can lead to uneven reading experiences.

ON MONDAYS, Wednesdays and Fridays it was Court Hand and Summulae Logicales, while the rest of the week it was the Organon, Repetition and Astrology. The governess was always getting muddled with her ...

Notes:

The Sword in the Stone is the first part of T.H. White's larger work called The Once and Future King.

Many know The Sword in the Stone mainly through the Disney film adaptation from the 1960s.

The novel follows Arthur's childhood as a boy nicknamed the Wart, growing up with his brother Kay.

Merlin is Arthur's tutor and transforms him into different animals to teach life lessons.

The book is whimsical and light-hearted, not as serious as one might expect from an Arthurian tale.

T.H. White's work is often described as one of the greatest fantasy series ever written.

The narrative includes many anachronisms, as Merlin references future people and inventions.

Wart learns about power, warfare, and justice through his transformations into various animals.

The book was first published in 1938 and later revised for inclusion in The Once and Future King.

The story culminates in a tournament where the true king will be revealed by his ability to pull a sword from a stone.

White's storytelling style blends humor with educational elements, appealing to both children and adults.

The Sword in the Stone includes rich descriptions of Old England's seasons and nature.

This book is often considered accessible yet contains deep philosophical themes about humanity and leadership.

Merlin's unique concept of living backward in time adds to the whimsicality of the book.

The narrative features notable characters such as Robin Hood, despite the timeline inconsistency.

From The Publisher:

"Learn. That is the only thing that never fails."-Merlyn the Wizard

Before there was a famous king named Arthur, there was a curious boy named Wart and a kind old wizard named Merlyn. Transformed by Merlyn into the forms of his fantasy, Wart learns the value of history from a snake, of education from a badger, and of courage from a hawk-the lessons that help turn a boy into a man. Together, Wart and Merlyn take the reader through this timeless story of childhood and adventure-The Sword in the Stone.

T.H. White's classic tale of the young Arthur's questioning and discovery of his life is unparalleled for its wit and wisdom, and for its colorful characters, from the wise Merlyn to the heroic Robin Wood to the warmhearted King Pellinore.

Golden Kite Honor artist Dennis Nolan has loved The Sword in the Stone since childhood, and he imbues White's tale with magic and mystery in his glowing illustrations. Readers who know Arthur or are meeting him for the first time will delight in this beautiful rendering of one of the greatest stories of all time.

Ratings (48)

Incredible (9)
Loved It (23)
Liked It (11)
It Was OK (2)
Did Not Like (2)
Hated It (1)

Reader Stats (99):

Read It (49)
Want To Read (39)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (10)

What can you read after
The Sword in the Stone?

See the list (100 books)

About the Author:

T. H. White is the author of the classic Arthurian fantasy The Once and Future King, among other works.

Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.

The Sword in the Stone

T.H. White

Book 1 in the series:The Once and Future King