'The Witch in the Wood' &'The Ill-Made Knight'

I've been waiting endlessly for this cherished childhood favorite to be released as an audiobook. This edition is the second and third sections of T.H. White's epic "The Once and Future King." In order to appreciate this audio version, you really should read "The Sword in the Stone" first. It all flows together beautifully.

If I tried to tell you how superbly T.H White writes, you probably wouldn't believe me. The narrator does a smashing job of bringing the dialogue to life. I know I'll be listening to this book and "The Sword in the Stone" again and again over the years.

Sadly, at the time I'm writing this, the final section of "The Once & Future King," which covers the last years of King Arthur, is not yet released in audio format. Hopefully this will be soon be remedied!

I should preface this review by saying that I usually listen to audiobooks to get to sleep; only rarely do I ever listen to a book that I haven't actually read before, since it frustrates me not to be able to keep up with the storyline of something with which I'm not familiar. This is about the only series of Arthurian tales I haven't read before, so I thought it was all well. I loved Sword in the Stone, though I was surprised at the level of violence; still, it was tolerably within my threshold. However, at one point during this second installation, I awoke in the middle of the night to a gruesome and shockingly graphic description of violence done to an animal. Perhaps at 35 I am too old to be getting nightmares from books, but I did--for about a week afterward!! I don't think I am extraordinarily sensitive; perhaps a little bit. I felt compelled to report it, in case I might spare someone else who is equally sensitive. As for the actual production, it is stellar. The narrator is absolutely wonderful.