Rating: 
Summary: awesome!
Review: I'm not an avid reader, but for some reason I chose this 600 pg plus book. I'm glad I did. The humor and wit in the first two books are laugh out loud, but it progresses to a harsh conclusion of the life of Arthur and Lancelot. It breaks one's heart, really. I believe more people should read this book, for it gives such an enlightened perspective on human nature. It isn't difficult to read, so...pick up a copy today!
Rating:
Summary: Whimsical. Delightful. Charming.
Review: Moving, beautiful, inspiring, gut-wrenching, involving, enduring. I read The Once and Future King for the first time when I was 8. I loved it then, and I just finished reading it for the 12th or 13th time, 20+ years later. It gets better with each reading. I missed my train station last night while Palomides hid from the amorous advances of the Questin' Beast.Poor tragic, human Arthur... poor tragic, human Guinevere. And brave Lancelot, who aspired to be better than human, but never understood that he'd succeeded. T. H. White created a fantastic world for his legendary characters, and transports his readers to that fantasy world where boys can become geese, and maidens can capture unicorns, and miracles can be performed if only you are pure of heart... Everyone's right, though. Galahad was a prig.
Rating: 
Summary: Nearly Perfect
Review: I loved this book. It is bittersweet, wise, and even beautiful. Don't read this book if you want bloody battles and great daring-do, although there are some of those. This book is about life and Arthur and Guineverre and Lancelot and how imperfect people are. It is also about what it means to be a hero, a leader, and a decent human being.
I will agree with another reviewer and say that at times, although the language is wonderful, it is difficult to read, but everything in this book has a point that is revelant to these characters or the story.
Rating:
Summary: CAMELOT COMES ALIVE!!!
Review: When I read this book in my mid-teens, I absolutely LOVED it, because it nurtured and excited my imagination. "THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING" combines all the elements of Arthurian legend, adventure, and history in describing the lives of Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, and some of the other notables of Camelot. (This is the novel, some of whose elements were later adapted to the screen as the Disney movie "The Sword in the Stone".) White has written a delightful, entertaining story not without its harrowing moments. We first see Arthur as a boy ("The Wart") living with his adoptive family and serving as a page to his older brother. Merlin's role at the beginning of the novel is as a teacher for Arthur. (Note. Merlin had been entrusted by Arthur's real father with protecting his son.) He leads Arthur on a variety of adventures, which I won't go into here, except to say that the reader will be amazed with the rich imagery White creates. The novel progresses through Arthur's life, his reign, his sorrows and joys, and the perils and highpoints of life in an England mired in upheaval and turmoil. White shows the reader how the forces of light and darkness interplay in the shaping of a society where magic can be a real factor in everyday life. It's a long novel, so brace yourself for a healthy sprint.
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Summary: Every Teen-ager MUST read this book!
Review: I remember reading an anthologized fragment of this book in high school. I thought it was hilarious, forgot about it, and was glad to rediscover it by way of the second X-Men film. This book is about adolescence. Because of the themes of maturity and growing up, I exhort (yes, EXHORT!) all parent to get their teen-age children to read this book.. This book is literary "Pet Sounds," and covers all the emotions that we feel when we grow up. I was taken back decades, and personal involvement the key to good literature. Before reading this book, keep in mind that it is shaped by two forces. First, the Arthurian legends, primarily Mallory and Tennyson. Second, World War II. Keep both in mind, or the book makes no sense. White makes the point that the Round Table is the solution to World War II. This book is in four parts. The first one is "Sword in the Stone," the basis for the Disney movie of the same name. It is Arthur's tutelage under Merlyn. White captures Arthur's adolescence perfectly-it is a stunning work that made me feel thirteen again. Merlyn is the mentor, but he has his loveable foibles that make his charming. It also makes him very believable and antithetic. And the relationship between Kay and Wart is male Cinderella. The second part is "The Queen of Air and Darkness." Once again, White shows his genius for showing family relationships. We add to Wart and Kay's relationship Gawain and families rather complex relationships. It reminded me of my own family. The different personalities makes the story so spicy. It is all personalities and relationships. I think this story gets more poignant that the first since we both Gawain and Arthur cross into manhood. Gawain with the killing of the unicorn, and with Arthur the battle and the decision to found the Round Table to end war. The third story is "The Ill-made Knight," which focuses on Lancelot coming to the Round Table and his affair with Genevieve. This book is about idealism and love, which is a form of idealism. Lancelot is in love with both Arthur and Guinevere, and this hero worship almost becomes "Hero Idolatry" What bedazzled me was the lies that Lancelot believed about his affair with Guinevere. Chapter 5 sums up all of the Knight's lies: "But please don't talk to me about the queen. I can't help it if we are fond of each other, and there is nothing wrong in being fond of people, is there? It is not as if the Queen and I were villains. When you begin lecturing me about her, you are making it seem as if there was something between us. It is as if you thought ill of me, or did not believe in my honor. Please do not mention the subject again." These lies and Lancelot's capacity to lie and speak white lies is amazing. It is genius on White's part to come up with these half-truths. And a half truth is a total lie This book is rather long, and I would have divided it a Chapter 13, which is where Greymere changes from medieval to renaissance culture. Arthur succeeds with Camelot, for "one brief shining moment." He then turns the Table's energy to finding the Holy Grail. This is the point: Arthur does not solve the violence problem, but merely sublimates it. The last book is "Candle in the Wind." It is the rise of Mordred, and the fall of the Round Table. The book is about adolescence, but White is able to convey an old, tired, and very lonely Arthur who's past sins come to haunt him. In fact, the entire downfall of Camelot is due to the chastity sin. Mordred is as good a liar as Lancelot. His problem is that Lancelot has some degree of virtue-maybe naiveté-but Mordred is a chainsaw. He lies to scheme, and then gets back at his derelict father. Another timely message. The book stops suddenly, without a real resolution. Camelot dims, and it seems like Arthur's work has been for naught. But remember that the book is really finished in "The Book Of Merlyn." White's Round Table was the United Nations, but in a sense, we are all still adolescents.
Rating: 
Summary: Charming but overrated
Review: What this book amounts to is a series of rambling, somewhat disconnected scenes with little overall plot or narrative thrust. The overall feeling is very light, humorous, and whimsical, and it is, in spots, quite charming and amusing. Alas, though, you find yourself about halfway through asking what the point, if any, is. The characters just prattle on and on, sometimes in a funny way, sometimes in a tedious and annoying way.... Is it a decent read? Yes. Is it the fantasy epic by which all others should be judged (as the cover says)? Hardly. This doesn't even belong on the same shelf as such classics as Tolkein, C.S. Lewis, or even The Black Cauldron series. I think people's love for the whole Arthurian thing has seriously clouded their evaluation of this book. Replace all the "Arthurian" character names with other names and you're left with what this book really is: a moderately charming, somewhat incoherent, light-weight breezy read. Read it if you want, but there's much better out there.
Rating:
Summary: Unique and thought-provoking take on the Arthurian legend
Review: So many people have reviewed this book, that pretty much everything that makes this novel great has been mentioned at least once already; so I'll keep this brief. The Once and Future King is (of course) very imaginative, as any self-respecting Arthurian tale should be. Admittedly, the beginning of the book is a little hard to get into, but I found that the pace picked up considerably once Arthur ascended the throne, which happens about a third of the way into the book. White offers new perspectives on the personalities and motives of characters such as Arthur, Guinevere, and Lancelot. Not being an Arthurian buff, I don't know exactly how drastic the liberties were that T.H. White took with the story, but on finishing this novel I was struck by the humanness and compassion that White was able to bring to these classic characters. I highly recommend this novel to anyone with an imagination.
Rating:
Summary: Just had to say this
Review: Sorry, but in response to the first review by Grant Majetich, he noted that the Queen of Air and Darkness is about Morgause seducing Arthur. But her name is Morgain, isn't it? She's also known as Morgan Le Fay. Morgause was Morgaine's aunt, and the mother of Gawain by Lot of Orkney. I think he confused Mrgause with Morgaine.
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Summary: Magneto and Professor X both read it. You should too.
Review: I hope that the use of The Once and Future King in X2 inspires a lot of new readers for one of the greatest fantasy stories of all time. Rick Norwood
Rating:
Summary: Breathtaking
Review: A literary classic, White's adaptation of La mort D'Arthur is a beautiful book.
The first is almost whimsical, a light hearted look at youth, but still giving out painful messages about the routine of adult life.
Merlyn is a father figure to Arthur, rather than the mysterious wizard of legend, but he still impresses, changing wart into a variety of creatures.
The second book is a lot darker, and strays away from wart and Merlyn, but instead tells us about the circumstances surrounding the birth of Mordred, the boy who will grow up to be Arthurs mortal enemy.
The next book is a lot less physical, and a lot more emotional, giving the reader a glimpse of the deep affection Lancelot, Guenevere and Arthur share for each other.
This deep bond makes it impossible for one to hate Lancelot and Guenevere for their betrayal of Arthur, or Arthur for his decision to risk Guenevere's life.
It tells of a time when chivalry and respect ruled.
Who knows, Arthur may yet come back to rule Britain!
(anythings has to be better than Tony Blair)!
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