In this second book of Malcolm Guite’s acclaimed Merlin’s Isle: An Arthuriad, travel back to craggy Tintagel to discover how it all began. Raised by Sir Ector and tutored by the wizard Merlin, young Arthur must grow into his destiny as the foretold king. He will need the aid of the perilous elves, wisdom beyond his years, and a host of virtuous knights to weather the storms to come.

In Guite’s follow-up to Galahad and the Grail, the poet loses none of his mastery of the tale. And even while exploring well-trodden paths of the Arthurian legend, he mines his sources for fresh insight and uncovers deep corners of lore that have lain dormant for a century or more. Add to this Guite’s natural facility with the form and his allusions and nods to poets and storytellers past, and the reader is left with nothing less than a royal feast of story and song.