The Works of Thomas Malory Review
Thomas Malory.
Born? Died 1471
One Volume Edition
Edited by Eugene Vinaver. Oxford University Press
This version was published in 1954 and based on the Winchester manuscript. Found in a charity bookshop for the princely sum of two pounds and ninety-nine pence. Bargain.
To begin with, you should know that this book is of course written in old English. For those of you who know nothing about this long-forgotten discourse from long ago it might be worth exploring. It is a glimpse into the spoken words of days of old.
As a baseline, it is a book you should own.
Ideal for dusting off on special occasions. Maybe after the consumption of some thick red wine this is the book to read aloud with friends. Passing from person to person, the words would come alive. And old English being the way it is, reading to each other makes it easier to comprehend.
Did we really speak like this on this green isle?
I know that some of you will literally cursing at me in modern English as I say it, but it is hilarious as well as educational. Apologies, for I am no great academic, nor do I intend to be. Regrets, well none, as it is a brilliant book that deserves a place on your bookshelf especially as you do end up feeling desperately sorry for poor old Thomas Malory. That aside, the fifteenth century English is easy to read. This Winchester text is stated as being truer to the authors original writing.
You do become familiar with ye old spellings, but this is where this book is a party piece. Even without a glass or two of the red stuff, or mead even, I find myself in fits of giggles and taken back to essences of the Black Adder television series.
Rambling Syd Rumpo also comes to mind which was one of Kenneth Williams hilarious characters form Round the Horn. You find yourself spellbound by this forgotten world from way back when. If you can get hold of a copy for a history lover for Christmas, you will not go far wrong. Although do not expect to find a 1954 edition with white pages. The damp smell will linger though and make you wonder if it actually has been around since the fourteenth century.
The Tale of King Arthur
It is documented that Malory wrote the story of the Arthurian legend in prison and there are many reports of varying degrees as to why he ended up there. Putting that to one side, it is a good read. But leave modern vocabulary to one side for a moment and enjoy the delights printed before you.
“That is trouthe,’ saide the Kyng, ‘as ye say, for it was I myself that cam in the lykenesse. And therefor desmay you not, for I am fader to the child,’ and ther he told her alle the cause how it was by Merlyns council, Thenne the queen made grete joye whan she knewe who was the fader of her child “
Why would Malory start writing the tale of Merlin whilst imprisoned?
Who knows, and as none of us were there at the time, (thankfully, as life seemed quite brutal) we shall leave answering that that question for now.) We can then focus on Merlin himself. Was he real? The earliest mentions of him are from a Welsh poem titled Y Gododdin (c. 9th century). The word Gododdin links back the Brythonic people from the sub-Roman period. Merlin is also mentioned in other texts, which is interesting if you are curious about the many views of history. The trouble with historical writing is that a lot of the time we are reading a version that suites the writer. Whether Malory was writing about a fable, fairytale or real events from a time gone by, it makes an interesting read all round, especially if you are interested in the history of Englond and Walys.
All written content, accept quoted sample S. Vukomanovic/Lawrence © 27/10/25
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