Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

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Sir Gawain and the Green Knight - Rated
Having seen his program on this on TV recently, I was moved to buy the book! I have of course read this story before, albeit many years ago, but in a more prose form. I must say that I loved Simon Armitage's book and was very glad to have bought it. My wife is reading it now.

I would strongly recommend it to any fan either of the Arthurian legend cycle or mediaeval literature.

the green knight - Rated
loved this poem, Simon Armitage`s translation is easy to read and rolls of the tongue whilst keeping to the spirit of the original.

Great reading, a romp, and a rare delight / You'll love this tale of Gawain and the knight - Rated
I knew of - rather than knew - this knight's tale
Of Gawain and the green man in his horrid green vale.
I must have heard it when I was a kid
Perhaps I didn't, but I feel that I did.

This version, though, could not be kinder:
Simon Armitage has played a blinder.
A passionate poet with fire in his belly,
I first saw him on the telly.

I thought the alliteration might be lame and lumpy
Over-thorough and thoughtlessly, numbingly thumpy
But no: it's not nasty, it's nicely nuanced
It's fine - it flows, it fits, it's fluent.

It's a rhyme for reading out loud as well
My grandkids will love it, I'm sure, when I tell
Them this rollocking rhyme with its rhythm
And action; I really look forward to reading it with them.

Though the story is gory, exciting and gritty
The poetry's perfect, both punchy and pretty
Gawain goes through ghastliness, but I can swear
That this book is anything but a knightmare.

So take it from me - you'll love this slim volume
With its tale of Gawain and his ghastly gollum
If this book were a plane, it would be a great Brabazon
So with justice I give it five full stars on Amazon.

Seen the BBC Four documentary? Now read the book! - Rated
"...It was Christmas at Camelot - King Arthur's Court,
where the great and the good of the land had gathered .."

Hopefully the recent - and excellent - BBC Four documentary in which Simon Armitage guided viewers on a journey through the literal landscape of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight will have brought this poem to the attention of a wider audience.

This book works at every possible level: it's a wonderful translation from the Middle English of the 1400's, it's a rollickingly exciting tale of chivalry, drama and moral dilemma, and, most significantly, it stands as poetry in its own right.

One word of warning: your friends will inevitably soon regard you as dotty, as the book just cries out to be read aloud!

Impossible to recommend strongly enough!

Great edition of a great tale - Rated
Loved this book. Great tale and appealing translation. The cover is very pleasing too!