A collection of three medieval English poems, translated by Tolkien for the modern-day reader and containing romance, tragedy, love, sex and honour. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Pearl are two poems by an unknown author written in about 1400. Sir Gawain is a romance, a fairy-tale for adults, full of life and colour; but it is also much more than this, being at the same time a powerful moral tale which examines religious and social values. Pearl is apparently an elegy on the death of a child, a poem pervaded with a sense of great personal loss: but, like Gawain it is also a sophisticated and moving debate on much less tangible matters. Sir Orfeo is a slighter romance, belonging to an earlier and different tradition. It was a special favourite of Tolkien's. The three translations represent the complete rhyme and alliterative schemes of the originals.

THREE MEDIEVAL ENGLISH POEMS, TRANSLATED BY TOLKIEN FOR THE MODERN-DAY READER It's Christmas at Camelot and Arthur won't begin to feast until he has witnessed a marvel of chivalry. A mysterious knight, green from head to toe, rides in and brings the court's wait to an end with an implausible challenge to the Round Table: he will allow any of the knights to strike him once, with a battle-axe no less, on the condition that he is allowed to return the blow a year hence. Arthur's brave favourite for the challenge is Sir Gawain... Accompanying Sir Gawain and the Green Knight in this book are Sir Orfeo, a medieval version of the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, a love so strong that it overcame death, and Pearl, the moving tale of a man in a graveyard mourning his baby daughter, lost like a pearl that slipped through his fingers. Worn out by grief, he falls asleep and dreams of meeting her in a bejewelled fantasy world. J.R.R. Tolkien's vivid translations of these classic poems are enriched in this new edition with the complete text of his acclaimed 1953 lecture on Sir Gawain.

THREE MEDIEVAL ENGLISH POEMS, TRANSLATED BY TOLKIEN FOR THE MODERN-DAY READER It's Christmas at Camelot and Arthur won't begin to feast until he has witnessed a marvel of chivalry. A mysterious knight, green from head to toe, rides in and brings the court's wait to an end with an implausible challenge to the Round Table: he will allow any of the knights to strike him once, with a battle-axe no less, on the condition that he is allowed to return the blow a year hence. Arthur's brave favourite for the challenge is Sir Gawain... Accompanying Sir Gawain and the Green Knight in this book are Sir Orfeo, a medieval version of the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, a love so strong that it overcame death, and Pearl, the moving tale of a man in a graveyard mourning his baby daughter, lost like a pearl that slipped through his fingers. Worn out by grief, he falls asleep and dreams of meeting her in a bejewelled fantasy world. J.R.R. Tolkien's vivid translations of these classic poems are enriched in this new edition with the complete text of his acclaimed 1953 lecture on Sir Gawain.

This smart new paperback edition contains the fully-reset text of three medieval English poems, translated by Tolkien for the modern-day reader and containing romance, tragedy, love, sex and honour. It features a beautifully decorated text and includes as a bonus the complete version of Tolkien’s acclaimed lecture on Sir Gawain. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Pearl are two poems by an unknown author written in about 1400. Sir Gawain is a romance, a fairy-tale for adults, full of life and colour; but it is also much more than this, being at the same time a powerful moral tale which examines religious and social values. Pearl is apparently an elegy on the death of a child, a poem pervaded with a sense of great personal loss: but, like Gawain it is also a sophisticated and moving debate on much less tangible matters. Sir Orfeo is a slighter romance, belonging to an earlier and different tradition. It was a special favourite of Tolkien’s. The three translations represent the complete rhyme and alliterative schemes of the originals, and are uniquely accompanied with the complete text of Tolkien’s acclaimed 1953 W.P. Ker Memorial Lecture that he delivered on Sir Gawain.

This elegant deluxe slipcased edition of three medieval English poems, translated by Tolkien for the modern-day reader and containing romance, tragedy, love, sex and honour, features a beautifully decorated text and includes as a bonus the complete text of Tolkien’s acclaimed lecture on Sir Gawain. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Pearl are two poems by an unknown author written in about 1400. Sir Gawain is a romance, a fairy-tale for adults, full of life and colour; but it is also much more than this, being at the same time a powerful moral tale which examines religious and social values. Pearl is apparently an elegy on the death of a child, a poem pervaded with a sense of great personal loss: but, like Gawain it is also a sophisticated and moving debate on much less tangible matters. Sir Orfeo is a slighter romance, belonging to an earlier and different tradition. It was a special favourite of Tolkien’s. The three translations represent the complete rhyme and alliterative schemes of the originals, and are uniquely accompanied in this special deluxe slipcased edition with the complete text of Tolkien’s acclaimed 1953 W.P. Ker Memorial Lecture that he delivered on Sir Gawain.

Dating from around 1400 and composed by an anonymous writer, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight was first translated and published almost 200 years ago. Its epic nature has not been dimmed by time: the classic story of a knight on a green steed challenging Sir Gawain to a monumental wager, it is a strange tale full of decapitations, seduction and magic.Soon to be brought to the big screen, Sir Gawain is one of the earliest great stories of English literature.

Dating from around 1400 and composed by an anonymous writer, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight was first translated and published almost 200 years ago. Its epic nature has not been dimmed by time: the classic story of a knight on a green steed challenging Sir Gawain to a monumental wager, it is a strange tale full of decapitations, seduction and magic.Soon to be brought to the big screen, Sir Gawain is one of the earliest great stories of English literature.

Dating from around 1400 and composed by an anonymous writer, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight was first translated and published almost 200 years ago. Its epic nature has not been dimmed by time: the classic story of a knight on a green steed challenging Sir Gawain to a monumental wager, it is a strange tale full of decapitations, seduction and magic.Soon to be brought to the big screen, Sir Gawain is one of the earliest great stories of English literature.

It is Christmas in Camelot, and a truly royal feast has been laid out for King Arthur and his knights. And though there is plenty of good cheer to go around, the festivities hardly begin before a monstrous, axe-wielding, green-skinned knight barges in. He has come to see the famous Knights of the Round Table and offer them a simple but deadly challenge — a challenge taken on by the brave Sir Gawain — a challenge that will force him to choose between his honor and his life…

It is Christmas in Camelot, and a truly royal feast has been laid out for King Arthur and his knights. And though there is plenty of good cheer to go around, the festivities hardly begin before a monstrous, axe-wielding, green-skinned knight barges in. He has come to see the famous Knights of the Round Table and offer them a simple but deadly challenge — a challenge taken on by the brave Sir Gawain — a challenge that will force him to choose between his honor and his life…

Award-winning children's writer and former Children's Laureate Sir Michael Morpurgo has collected classic tales of heroism and adventure and put them all in one place. Here! From brave heroes and battling beasts to mighty gods and magic spells, these are timeless tales to treasure forever. Eye-catching colour illustrations bring the magic of these myths and legends to life. There are lots of stories to choose from, including Mulan, Icarus, and Hercules the Hero, plus a retelling of Gawain and the Green Knight written by Sir Michael himself, so whether you're looking for a quick read or a longer story to lose yourself in, something to read alone or a tale to share, there's an enchanting story within for everyone to find. A sumptuous gift edition for young readers to treasure, and a perfect companion to Greatest Animal Stories and Greatest Magical Stories.

The magical adventurous picture book from the number one bestselling author and illustrator of The Gruffalo, Zog and Stick Man. 'Meet the Flying Doctors - a dragon, knight and girl. Their names are Gadabout the Great, and Zog, and Princess Pearl.' Princess Pearl, Sir Gadabout and their trusty 'air ambulance', Zog the dragon fly around tending a sunburnt mermaid, a distressed unicorn and a sneezy lion. But should princesses really be doctors? Pearl's uncle, the King, doesn't think so - until he himself falls ill, and only Pearl knows how to cure him. Sturdy board pages with softly rounded corners are perfect for little ones.

First appearing around 1400, The Alliterative Morte Arthure, or, The Death of King Arthur, is one of the most widely beloved and spectacularly alliterative poems ever penned in Middle English. Now, from the internationally acclaimed translator of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, comes this magisterial new presentation of the Arthurian tale, rendered in unflinching and gory detail. Following Arthur's bloody conquests across the cities and fields of Europe, all the way to his spectacular and even bloodier fall, this masterpiece features some of the most spellbinding and poignant passages in English poetry. Never before have the deaths of Arthur's loyal knights, his own final hours, and the subsequent burial been so poignantly evoked. Echoing the lyrical passion that so distinguished Seamus Heaney's Beowulf, Simon Armitage has produced a virtuosic new translation that promises to become both the literary event of the year and the definitive edition for generations to come.

Sir Scallywag and the Golden Underpants by Giles Andreae and Korky Paul - with readalong CD! When King Colin's golden underpants go missing, he calls for Sir Scallywag, the bravest knight in the land. But . . . Sir Scallywag is only 6 years old and with an evil giant to pursue, it's nearly mission impossible! Luckily, this epic tale is a story of David and Goliath. With his trusted steed Doofus at his side, Sir Scallywag proves than even the unlikeliest hero can be the bravest knight of all. Read by author Giles Andreae, and featuring music and sound-effects, the readalong CD brings this exciting and hilarious tale to life. Giles Andreae is an award-winning children's author and has written both fiction and bestselling picture books, such asPants and Giraffes Can't Dance. He is probably best known as the creator of the phenomenally successful Purple Ronnie, Britain's favourite stickman. Giles lives in Oxfordshire with his wife and four children. Korky Paul's bright and energetic style is instantly recognisable. With a string of awards to his name, including both the Kate Greenaway and the Red House Children's Book Award, he is best-known for his portrayal of Winnie the Witch, everyone's favourite magical mischief maker. Korky has two grown up children and lives in Oxford.

Join our brave young knight Sir Charlie Stinky Socks in his bestselling super duper picture book adventure series – oh my! Once upon a time, there was a deep, dark forest, where monstrous trees groaned, terrible beasties moaned and wiggly woos waited to tickle your toes. Nobody ever went there until… Sir Charlie Stinkysocks, his good grey mare and his pet cat Envelope decide the time has come for a really big adventure. Sir Charlie packs his best sword and his sandwiches and off he goes, over the hills and far away, until he gets to the deep, dark forest. Sir Charlie doesn’t flinch when he meets the beasties, or the dragon, or the wily witch, but when he comes across the princess, he realises he’s met his match! A swashbuckling, funny and charming adventure from best-selling picture book author/illustrator Kristina Stephenson – an ideal read aloud lift-the-flap story to share with little adventurers aged 3+ Fans of Jonny Duddle's Jolley-Rogers and Claire Freedman's Dinosaurs Love Underpants series will love Sir Charlie Stinky Socks. Do you own all of Sir Charlie's adventures?

Complete collection of Tolkien’s essays, including two on Beowulf, which span three decades beginning six years before The Hobbit to five years after The Lord of the Rings. The seven ‘essays’ by J.R.R. Tolkien assembled in this new paperback edition were with one exception delivered as general lectures on particular occasions; and while they mostly arose out of Tolkien’s work in medieval literature, they are accessible to all. Two of them are concerned with Beowulf, including the well-known lecture whose title is taken for this book, and one with Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, given in the University of Glasgow in 1953. Also included in this volume is the lecture English and Welsh; the Valedictory Address to the University of Oxford in 1959; and a paper on Invented Languages delivered in 1931, with exemplification from poems in the Elvish tongues. Most famous of all is On Fairy-Stories, a discussion of the nature of fairy-tales and fantasy, which gives insight into Tolkien’s approach to the whole genre. The pieces in this collection cover a period of nearly thirty years, beginning six years before the publication of The Hobbit, with a unique ‘academic’ lecture on his invention (calling it A Secret Vice) and concluding with his farewell to professorship, five years after the publication of The Lord of the Rings.