King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (Hear It Read It Classics)

This retelling of the Arthurian legend is a thorough delight for older children and adults alike. Not only is Benedict Flynn true to the essence and spirit of this classic tale of good and evil, of heroes and their human failings (and disastrous consequences!), he tells the story in language that crackles with life and lyricism. Sean Bean's narration and playing of the many parts is impeccable. (The Tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight alone is worth the price of the recording.) And how refreshing it is to hear one of the great myths of British heritage retold without the tacky revisionism so fashonable today. A work not only to entertain but to inspire as well.

As others have mentioned, it's truly Sean Bean's narration that sets this recording apart. He does a fabulous job making the story come alive and, well, his voice is just utterly lovely as well. I agree with a previous reviewer that the music left something to be desired (perhaps, in fact, simply that it had been left out). The music is more often distracting -- and occasionally inappropriate to the story -- than not. But I'm still giving the recording 5 stars because otherwise it's so wonderful and oughtn't be missed. For listening with kids... My 2nd grader has been equally enchanted as I, and has been asking to drive out of our way just to listen to more. As with any telling of the Arthur tales, there's the opportunity for a fair amount of sexual content. What is said is basically between the lines, but very clear for older listeners. It would probably go over most children's heads, as it has my son, but some parents might feel it's inappropriate for children. There are encounters that lead to children, kisses that signal infidelity, women lying on beds and men who "love" them. Nothing is described in detail, but some parents might be uncomfortable with the conversations that could arise. Most of the familiar stories are here: the sword in the stone, Excalibur and the Lady of the Lake, Gawain and the green knight, the lady of Shalott, Lancelot's love for Guinevere, Sir Galahad and the "perilous" seat, the quest for the Holy Grail, Morgana Le Fay (entirely wicked, as is traditional, in this version)... Overall, I feel it's an excellent introduction to the tales. And so beautiful to listen to!

In all honesty, though I have always loved the stories of Arthur and Camelot, I too bought this audio book merely to hear the amazing voice of Sean Bean. The two combined make for a very powerful and gripping story. This would be a perfect gift for children, the young-at-heart, or anyone who is captivated by the stories of Camelot.

When I originally purchased this "Junior Classic" - as a gift for my little brother, an Arthur aficianado - I didn't expect to enjoy it much myself. However, the adaptation is well-done, and is not so inane as to make it unbearable to anyone over ten, which is what I expected. I was so pleasantly surprised that I went out and bought myself a copy! British actor Sean Bean has an incredible range of voices and accents, which he uses impeccably to enrich the characters he reads (though all the narrative is done in his lovely native Yorkshire). Morgana le Fay, Lancelot, Elaine, and, yes, Arthur all come to life as one listens. A very enjoyable audiobook, for bedtime or listening to in the car, or just as a mini-holiday!