The Once and Future King is T. H. White's modern interpretation of the great English classic Le Morte d'Arthur by Thomas Malory. White retells the story in more modern language, and he emphasizes modern themes relevant to today's world, such as violence, war, power, and justice. However, he tells the story in a language that today's young adults can relate to and--for the most part--understand.
The book tells the story of King Arthur, from his early days as a boy tutored by Merlyn, the wizard, to his years as king of England, to his final days as his kingdom descends into chaos. A major focus of the book is Arthur's various attempts to channel the violence in human nature to achieve...