King Arthur & His Knights

"King Arthur & His Knights" tells the legend of the mythological first king of Britain King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. First part of the book tells how young Arthur pulled a sword out of an anvil, how he learned of his royal lineage, and how he thus became king. Second part tells the stories of Merlin, Sir Pellias, Sir Gawaine and other noble knights.

Howard Pyle (1853–1911) was an American illustrator, author, and teacher, instrumental in the development of American illustration and often referred to as 'The Father of American Illustration'. Born in Wilmington, Delaware, Pyle exhibited an interest in drawing and writing from an early age. He pursued his passion at the Art Students League of New York and later set up his studio in Wilmington. Pyle is most renowned for his contribution to American children's literature, through which he often revived historical and chivalric subjects with rich and imaginative narrative techniques.

His seminal work, 'King Arthur and His Knights' (1903), remains a definitive rendition of the Arthurian legends in English literature. Pyle's Arthurian work is characterized by a romantic recreation of an idealized chivalry, wedded with the vibrant storytelling that became his hallmark. Beyond this, he authored and illustrated a range of books, including 'The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood' (1883) and 'The Story of King Arthur and His Knights' (1903). His narrative style blended the didactic with the entertaining, invariably instilling moral principles within his tales. Pyle's legacy endures through the generations of artists and authors he inspired, and his works continue to ignite the imaginations of readers worldwide.