It’s no surprise that authors past and present have found Arthurian legends a rich source of inspiration. Some look at the way that Arthur and his knights are ultimately doomed to fail, while others look at the promise that, in the world’s time of need, Arthur will return to save us all. (I’m not rushing you, Art, but now would be the time). There have been queer and feminist retellings of Arthurian myth, and settings have included everything from the medieval era to a far-off spacefaring future. While there have been many fascinating and compelling retellings of stories about King Arthur, the field is still largely dominated by white authors, with only a few authors of colour having their Arthurian works published. Hopefully, the success of books like Legendborn will allow more authors of colour the opportunity to publish stories in this rich and fascinating area of myth and legend. For an in-depth look at the importance of diverse retellings, check out Why Retellings of Classics From Authors of Color and Queer Authors Matter. In the meantime, here are some of the best books about Arthur for children and adults alike. If you love Arthurian adaptations and want to read more, try 8 of the Best Queer Arthurian Retellings.
