Arthur: A New Life by Amy Jeffs - Myths & Fairy Tales Book

Explore the enduring legend of King Arthur through a fresh perspective in Arthur: A New Life by Sunday Times bestseller Amy Jeffs. This compelling narrative delves into the deep, often elusive, seams of a story familiar to many, presenting Arthur not just as a king, but as a larger-than-life warlord, a hero raised by fairies, a leader of the wild hunt, and a monster-slayer. The book traces the epic story from Merlin's conception and the building of the Round Table to the abduction of Guinevere and Arthur's ambitious quest for Empire, bringing the legendary figure to life from the earliest sources.

Amy Jeffs draws out the dark and beautiful stories from original medieval and early modern texts, guiding readers through citadels, forests, volcanoes, caves, and riverbanks, even venturing into Hell and the Otherworld. Beyond the tales themselves, the book offers incisive commentary on each legend, emphasizing their crafted nature and their symbiotic relationship with the political cultures of contemporary medieval Europe. The narrative is further enriched by thirty original linocut illustrations that map the inky Arthurian myth-scape, darkened by time and familiar as a dream.

Key Features:

• A fresh interpretation of the King Arthur legend.
• Explores Arthur as a warlord, fairy-raised hero, and more.
• Traces the epic story from Merlin to the quest for Empire.
• Based on earliest sources and original medieval/early modern texts.
• Includes incisive commentary on the legends and their cultural context.
• Features thirty original linocut illustrations.

Specifications:

• Author: Amy Jeffs
• Publisher: riverrun
• Publication Date: 10 September 2026
• Language: English
• Print Length: 400 pages
• Binding: Hardcover
• Dimensions: 16 x 4.2 x 23.4 cm
• Weight: 736 g
• ISBN-10: 1529431689
• ISBN-13: 978-1529431681

Discover the legend of King Arthur as never before in this richly illustrated and deeply researched exploration of one of literature's most enduring myths.