The Knight with the Lion: The Story of Yvain

This is one of the older tales of the Round Table and one of the most poetic. The story is well told, but THE ILLUSTRATIONS ARE TO DIE FOR! As a friend of mine said, "I devoured the book and am now picking my teeth with the spine." Rare is the illustrator who can make fantasy seem real, yet this book is proof that it can be done. Another lovely introduction to the tales of King Arthur.

This book is only rated with a nine because I suspect that it will be some time before I die, and there is a small chance that I may read something better in that time. I have always been a fan of Arthurian Literature, as well as the older writings such as Beowulf, because of the unashamed heroism and characters that are beyond reproach as true knights in shining armor. This is probably the best of that entire group that I have ever read. Yvain is the greatest knight in the land, equaled only by Gawain, and though he is surrounded by corruption, he remains an unstoppable force for good, fearing nothing. It is not possible to read this story without wanting to strap on some armor and go save the world as soon as you're finished.