Author

Thomas Malory

d. 1471 · English knight who compiled the Arthurian prose romance Le Morte d'Arthur

About Thomas Malory

Sir Thomas Malory (d. 1471) completed his Arthurian book, by his own account, in the ninth year of Edward IV's reign (1469-70), calling himself a knight and asking readers to pray that God send him good deliverance. He is usually identified with Sir Thomas Malory of Newbold Revel in Warwickshire, a knight who lived through the Wars of the Roses and seems to have written at least part of the work as a prisoner. Little else is known for certain; the book itself survives only because William Caxton printed it in 1485.

Notable works

Frequently Cited

“Do after the good and leave the evil, and it shall bring you to good fame and renown.”
Le Morte d'Arthur, Caxton's Preface
“Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil, is rightwise king born of all England.”
Le Morte d'Arthur, Book I, Ch. V
“never to do outrageousity nor murder, and always to flee treason; also, by no means to be cruel, but to give mercy unto him that asketh mercy”
Le Morte d'Arthur, Book III, Ch. XV
“Then there entered into the hall the Holy Grail covered with white samite, but there was none might see it, nor who bare it.”
Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XIII, Ch. VII
“for queens I might have enow, but such a fellowship of good knights shall never be together in no company.”
Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XX, Ch. IX
“Hic jacet Arthurus, Rex quondam, Rexque futurus.”
Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XXI, Ch. VII
“thou were the courteoust knight that ever bare shield. And thou were the truest friend to thy lover that ever bestrad horse.”
Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XXI, Ch. XIII

On this site

Le Morte d'Arthur

Thomas Malory

1485 (Caxton; completed c. 1469-70) · Medieval · Epic

Le Morte d'Arthur is Thomas Malory's English prose gathering of the Arthurian legend, from the hero's conception to the death of the last knights of the Round Table. Uther Pendragon, with Merlin's help, begets Arthur on Igraine, and the child is raised secretly by Sir Ector.

medium medical relevanceHeroismHonor ShameLove Desire