Sir Gawain and the Loathly Lady

In the Arthurian legend cycle, Sir Gawain is the nephew of King Arthur and is one of Arthur's most eager and heroic knights. The greatest of the many Sir Gawain tales is "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight". The second most famous tale is, "The Wedding of Sir Gawain and the Lady Ragnelle." This story is retold by Selina Hastings as "Sir Gawain and the Loathly Lady." Selina Hastings is a talented writer and a does a great job of retelling a medeival British romance so as to be accessable to young children. The richly detailed illustrations that accompany the story add greatly to the pleasure of the book. This volume is a must purchase for all parents who wish to introduce their children to the pleasures of Arthurian legend. Be sure not to miss Selina Hastings' retelling of the Green Knight tale.

For quite a few years I taught 4th grade. Both before and after having children. ( as I gained a perspective on trying to be thin to be wanted and trying to be beautiful to be heard) This book came to me when I taught Steinbeck's King Arthur and other pieces in a theme I called "Fairy Tales." This included, by the way, a marvelous Reading Rainbow on Rumpelstiltskin and in it a visit to the Renaissance Faire in Agoura Hills. But no story, and we had great ones, was ever as well liked by my female students than this the one that poses the question Freud apparently never got around to answering, "What do women really want?" I won't spoil it, but Sir Gawain in his nobility and loyalty marries a woman that is an outrageous hag,saving a situation for his King, he steps up in a moment when circumstances demand his "sacrifice." The illustrations here are like an ancient gilted manuscript, they are delightful, but he has an interesting surprise coming....... something that speaks to the nature of women and what they really want. On the question of true desire, what does she want? I have to say this has always been such genius,this story, as any woman daily grapples with the fact that her mind and her beauty are competitors, with her inner being suppressed it often can only truly blossom long after she ages into the form man no longer "wants." She holds this a lifetime. Ah...it's a good tale, to be given freedom from this, now that is a rare gift. Great story teller, awesome illustration with at least 12 years of children finding it a book that told something that they wanted to hear. I'd definitely gift it to our daughters and read it to our sons.

I had never heard this legend before I found this book at the library. I was glad I read it. The story is nice and the pictures are great! ( kind of gory). This an easy read, and a cute book.

This is a terrific book for young teen girls. They really get the message that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". They also love the answer to the riddle. ( I won't spoil it for those of you who haven't read it yet!) I am a therapist who works with emotionally disturbed youth and it is one of my favorite books to share with clients or in teen girl groups. The illustrations are wonderful. I actually think it is not for young children, but more for teens and adults! It is one of my favorites. I am really disappointed that it is out of stock currently. I wanted to buy another copy for a library for foster youth.

This is a terrific book for young teen girls. They really get the message that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". They also love the answer to the riddle. ( I won't spoil it for those of you who haven't read it yet!) I am a therapist who works with emotionally disturbed youth and it is one of my favorite books to share with clients or in teen girl groups. The illustrations are wonderful. I actually think it is not for young children, but more for teens and adults! It is one of my favorites. ...