The Sword in the Stone
by T H White
The Sword in the Stone is Book 1 of The Once and Future King by T.H. White.
“The Sword in the Stone was a favourite of mine. It all comes down to character. Wart is such a wonderful character and re-imagining of King Arthur as a child. The detail in the magic, again, made me laugh so much. The wonderful spelling match Merlin has with Madam Mim, the knights in armour not being able to move because their armour is so heavy – it’s exquisitely observed.” Read more...
Cressida Cowell, Children's Author
“The Once and Future King is probably my favourite retelling of the Arthurian epic. I like that it’s written so colloquially and in such a friendly way. I like how it progresses through Wart’s – or Arthur’s – childhood, and then we get into adulthood. Merlyn is a very convincing and beloved character to me in this book. It’s one that I read out loud to my children, because it is so accessible; it does give such a clear retelling of the Arthurian legend, and yet at the same time, it makes all of the characters very human and very relatable” Read more...
The Best Medieval Fantasy Books
Robin Hobb, Novelist
Interviews where books by T H White were recommended
The Best Medieval Fantasy Books, recommended by Robin Hobb
A medieval flavour is common in fantasy books, but this can range from chivalric adventures and mythical beasts to grimdark realities. Here Robin Hobb, multi-award winning novelist of the Realm of the Elderlings series, introduces her five favourites, spanning the breadth of the genre.
The best books on Fantasy, recommended by Lev Grossman
We’re living through a golden age for fantasy, says fantasy novelist and book critic Lev Grossman, author of The Magicians and The Bright Sword. He tells us what makes for a good fantasy novel, and who’s staking out the future not just of fantasy but of fiction as a whole.
The best books on The Miracle of Autism, recommended by Rupert Isaacson
The respected author in an intimate discussion about his personal views on autism, prompted by his relationship with his own autistic son. Discusses books that reflect the values of empathy and authenticity
Magical Stories for Kids, recommended by Cressida Cowell
From wizards to alchemy and fairies to folklore, Cressida Cowell reveals the magical stories that were most important to her as a child (and which she now delights in sharing with her own children), and her own inspirations for writing about magic and magical worlds today.
Cressida Cowell on Magical Stories for Kids