Selections From The Idylls Of The King

Collection of poems by nineteenth-century poet Alfred Lord Tennyson, featuring "Idylls of the King," his epic work about the court of King Arthur.

Baron Alfred Tennyson Tennyson's 'The Last Tournament' is a poetic narrative that delves into the Arthurian legend, focusing on the final jousting tournament held by King Arthur. The book is written in Tennyson's signature lyrical style, filled with rich imagery and emotional depth, capturing the essence of chivalry and honor prevalent in the medieval era. Tennyson's portrayal of characters like Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere adds a layer of complexity to the story, exploring themes of betrayal and redemption within the legendary Camelot. 'The Last Tournament' stands out as a significant work in Tennyson's larger body of Arthurian literature, showcasing his mastery of narrative poetry and his ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia for a bygone era. Readers will be captivated by the evocative language and the timeless themes presented in this classic tale of love and loyalty.

As the principal narrative poem of nineteenth-century England, Tennyson's Idylls of the King is an ambitious and widely influential reworking of the Arthurian legends of the Middle Ages, which have provided a great body of myth and symbol to writers, painters, and composers for the past hundred years. Tennyson's treatment of these legends is now valued as a deeply significant oblique commentary on cultural decadence and the precarious balance of civilization. Drawing upon published and unpublished materials, Tennyson's Camelot studies the Idylls of the King from the perspective of all its medieval sources. In noting the Arthurian literature Tennyson knew and paying special attention to the works that became central to his Arthurian creation, the volume reveals the poet's immense knowledge of the medieval legends and his varied approaches to his sources. The author follows the chronology of composition of the Idylls, allowing the reader to see Tennyson's evolving conception of his poem and his changing attitudes to the medieval accounts. The Idylls of the King stands, ultimately, as the poet's own Camelot, his legacy to his generation, an indictment of his society through a vindication of his idealism.