The Adventures of Sir Lancelot the Great (review)

Sir Lancelot is certain that he is bound for greatness and a place in King Arthur's retinue. He is less clear on why he keeps being challenged, by a single attacker at a time, on the last leg of his ride to the castle. Of course, Lancelot has stumbled into the middle of a jousting tournament, and his agility and the absolute ease of his victories greatly impress the king (and all of the ladies of the court). Soon Lancelot's skills have won him great renown but also considerable drawbacks: constant confrontations from knights hoping to make their name off his defeat and incessant flirtation from women hoping to snag the dashing and successful knight. Such is the curse and blessing of being the best, and though Lancelot briefly tries a hermetic escape, he is soon drawn back to knightly life to fulfill his destiny. This trim novel, with simple vocabulary and brief, witty chapters, is an ideal fit for early readers whether Arthurian buffs or not, but fans of the legendary characters may find particular delight in this irreverent and unabashedly silly exploration of Arthur's court and his most influential knight. Although Morris is best known for his middle-school novels on the same topic (The Squire's Tale, BCCB 7/98, et al.), this younger glimpse into chivalry is equally successful, and it will ready the younger set to tackle his older oeuvre in a few years. Frequent black-and-white illustrations supplement the text, highlighting (and in most cases, exaggerating) elements from humorous passages.