Le Morte D'Arthur

By: Sir Thomas Malory

Narrated by: Chris MacDonnell

Length: 37 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's Summary

To the modern eye, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table have many similarities to our own contemporary super-heroes. Equipped with magical powers, enchanted swords, super-strength, and countless villains to take on, they protect the weak and innocent and adhere to their own code of honor. Comparing Batman, Superman, and Captain America to Sir Launcelot, Sir Tristram, and Sir Galahad isn't a huge leap of the imagination.

Perhaps, for the 15th century reader, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table were the equivalent of our modern day Justice League or Avengers. This audiobook gets to the heart of the narrative, telling the exciting legends of the supernatural, magic, dragons, beasts, battles, and chivalry contained in Sir Thomas Malory's epic in a contemporary and unaffected style. First published by William Caxton in 1485, this version is a faithfully unabridged narration of the complete Malory text (excluding the introduction). It includes the chapter numbers and descriptions used in the original manuscript.

Public Domain (P)2016 Chris MacDonnell

This is my go-to audio version of Malory

Yes, I am aware that there is a recording by the incomparable Derek Jacobi, but unfortunately the audible version sounds like it is transcribed from a cassette tape, and is abridged (even so I still recommend it). Still, this version here is my go-to audio version not only because it is the complete Malory (the Caxton version), but because Chris MacDonnell narrates it in a rich voice which makes all the "he smote this, and he smote that" (specially in the interminable Tristram section) more palatable to the reader/ listener. I ought to have prefaced my commentary here by saying that I would not recommend Malory to a reader who is not already acquainted in some form to the Arthurian legend, whether this may have been through a class, a film, or one of the myriad of retellings that abound. Personally, I came to Malory through T.H. White, so therefore I loved many of the characters that are sourced from Malory. I highly recommend this audible version and following along with the knickerbox clothbound edition of Malory that one can find on Amazon, replete with Aubrey Beardsley illustrations. This made the experience all the more the richer!

'Chris’s steady, easy tone'

I have a confession. I haven’t listened to this entire recording yet.

Actually, I have. But I was asleep.

Wait, that doesn’t sound right. Let’s start again.

I’m one of those people whom the cares of the day seem to follow to bed. Some chosen few, like Napoleon Bonaparte, fall asleep when their head hits the pillow. Other, less-successful world conquerors, like me, have to come up with strategies for getting the required 8 hours.

I’ve found that long recordings of classic books, when evenly and soothingly read, engage my mind, banish worries and cares, and send me off to dreamland.

Even better, if I wake up in the middle of the night, the story is still there, still soothing, and I can fall asleep again.

So far, I’ve used Ovid’s Metamorphoses (the Naxos recording with David Horovitch), The Iliad and Odyssey (the Robert Fitzgerald translations, read by George Guidall and Dan Stevens, respectively), the Mabinogion (Lady Charlotte Guest’s 1877 translation, read by Richard Mitchley), the Divine Comedy (Clive James’s translation, read by Edoardo Ballerini), and Simon Armitage’s translation of The Death of Arthur, read by Bill Wallis.

I find Milton’s language too involved to lull me to sleep; though I sometimes use Canterbury Tales (full cast, translated by Nicolson) and Faerie Queene (Naxos, read by David Timson), my habit of anticipating rhymes can keep me up.

Please understand, I don’t find these books boring in the least. I know them from my page-and-binding reading and have loved them—some for decades now. When awake, what one reviewer has called Chris Macdonnell’s “steady, easy tone” is a superb vehicle for this epic prose masterpiece. But it also works well at the end of a long day.

I only regret that Beowulf, though read by George Guidall, isn’t long enough to get me through the night.

Not for the faint of heart, but worth the journey!

What made the experience of listening to Le Morte D'Arthur the most enjoyable?

It's an English literature, history and foreign language lesson all rolled into one!

What other book might you compare Le Morte D'Arthur to and why?

It's a combination of all medieval stories, and the holy bible.

Which character – as performed by Chris MacDonnell – was your favorite?

Well it has to be Lancelot and Palamedes for me. The most noble nights, with definite kinks in their armor.Chris did a fantastic job with the Olde English, and the sheer multitude of characters! I can only imagine the chops he earned on this one! It was tough going at first, but Chris's steady, easy tone certainly helped me acclimate and learn. I feel like I learned a whole new language!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The insight into the struggles for many knights to maintain the code of knighthood added a sense of realism, and made the story more approachable. Was Gallahad a reference to Jesus? Very interesting parallels for sure. I liked how the ending ties into the story of the Knights Templar.

Any additional comments?

Quite taken by the number of archaetypes introduced in this work that resonate throughout literary history. This book seems but just once removed from the Holy Bible itself.

Marathon of smiting!

totally classic piece of literature, truly accomplished narrator, although you can't tell if he knows how to pronounce French or not half the time. as good as this story is, if I have to hear the phrase, 'and he smote on the left hand and on the right' again, I'm very likely to throw my phone into the wall!

Caxton edition boring and bad

More than half of this exceedingly long book is a dead loss, an endless string of pointlessly identical jousts, tournaments, and random damsel-savings. The content is worthwhile, and the performance is good; it's the writing that is like slogging through knee-deep cold porridge.

It’s no excuse that it was written in the 15th century – The Canterbury Tales and The Decameron are from the 14th century and both are massively superior in descriptive writing, characterization, plotting, and plain-old enjoyment.

Part of the problem may be that Mallory seems to have made no attempt to alter the form of the French originals (“as the French book sayeth”), which were part of an oral tradition based on stiff and stylized repetition.

I was disappointed that I only came across a review of Peter Ackroyd’s retelling (https://is.gd/1EYhBq) as I was finishing this book and I will likely try Ackroyd’s version (which is also available on audible.com) one day.

I'll also mention that this is not truly the Caxton version. Someone has taken it upon themselves to bowdlerize it, removing any and all sexual references and religious oaths.

Tradition Plus

This is an exceptional rendition of Le Mort D'Arthur well performed from a good translation. If you have not ventured into the true cornerstone of the Arthurian myth; this is a great book. It may, however, be a little dense. The text and the performance preserves many of the traditional usages, wordings, phrases, and vernacular and it's truly Wonderful and I have nothing but praise for this fine work.
Although if this is your first foray into "King Arthur Stuff" you may want to start with the more cinematic and YA-friendly "The once and future King" which is pleasing in its own right but is limited in its scope and is an ultra abridged treatment of the Arthurian Legend in much the same way Prince Valiant is a "lens" or introduction to mere elements of the canon. But if you want to be magically transported into the Legend and you're wanting to get a great feel for canon this is a fun and significant place to start.
If you're at the point in your Arthuriana were your collecting translations and comparing works in the canon, this is a must-have addition to that scholarship. Many of us "Arthrians" hold up "Le Morte D'Arthur By (author) Sir Thomas Malory, Edited by Janet Cowen in the Penguin edition as a strong modern translation. These 37 odd hours of the tail are an equally good treatment and come with the highest recommendation.

Not what I thought

I was recommended this book. It was first written in French, then translated to old English. It is tough to listen to and follow along. I did not finish the book, but I have been told the story is very comprehensive on Arthur, but I couldn't get passed the reader and the language style.

vocabulary building

I should have known the language was going to be so archaic, but if you can get past that it is worth a listen. the repetition is iconic of oral tradition, but does take a while to get used to.

Anti Climatic

It was a long spoiler chapter that ruins the story. no indepth characters Guinevere was a Skeet Skeet Tart and a Lancelot was a back stabber. I did not enjoy this just because its an old book does not make it good or a classic. I was hoping for more info onn Merlin, ladies of the Lake. and so on. Excalibur was so much more interesting. I'm not going to read Cantebury Tales. I don't care. you won't learn anything from this yarn and lists of Knights doles and smite. Lord of the Rings was much better.

Say What?

Sorry. Tried and tried and tried after reading this was Steinbeck’s fave book. Tuned it in on 4 separate commutes and could not plug into the archaic language. My mind would wander after no more than 10 minutes. Threw in the towel after about three chapters.

Interesting, though repetitive. And long.

As a someone who was very into Arthurian legend growing up, I was a little embarrassed that I had never read this - despite having a copy on my bookshelf for over 20 years! I was rather put off by my mother's review - that it was very simplistic and read like something for children. Having finally completed it, I see what she meant. it's very simplistic in its narrative structure, and it does rather drag.
I'm glad I got around to it, but I can see why the beginning and end are the most popular parts

Great performance, boring middle

The start and end of this book are great and highly memorable. The middle is incredibly repetitive and dull, if you get bored skip to the last book- the death of Arthur. Happy reading!

Important but implistic and repetitive tales

Simple and repetitive language and stories. Rich with myth and legend, and seminal for western culture. Nevertheless a drag considering its length, and the rather heavy accent and nasal narrator doesn't help.