The Best King Arthur Books to Read (Classic & Modern Retellings)

 There are some stories that stand the rest of time. King Arthur is one of them.

Camelot, the Round Table, the sword in the stone, -  these legends have been told and retold for more than a thousand years, yet they continue to change shape depending on who is telling them. Sometimes Arthur is a noble king. Sometimes he’s a flawed warlord. Sometimes the story belongs to Merlin, sometimes to Guinevere, sometimes to those that have historically been called villains. 

Lately, I’ve found myself pulled back into this world again while reading The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman -  a modern retelling of those stories.  It sent me back through the Arthurian bookshelf of my past and made me realize just how many different versions of this story there actually are.

Where It All Begins

To understand the roots of Arthurian fiction, it helps to start with the original medieval source.

Le Mort d’Arthur 

Compiled in the 15th century by Sir Thomas Malory, this is the version that shaped the legend.  It’s a medieval tale of chivalry and tragedy. All other retellings are,  in some way, based on this book.

The Once and Future King by T.H. White

This is a classic 20th-century retelling which is said to be insightful and poignant. It’s a modern take on Arthur, from his boyhood under Merlyn to the fall of Camelot.

The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart

The first in a trilogy (followed by The Hollow Hills and The Last Enchantment), this is a  detailed, character-driven retelling told from Merlin’s perspective. It’s magical and immersive.

The Winter King by Bernard Cornwell

The first book in The Warlord Chronicles trilogy (The Winter King, Enemy of God, Excalibur). In this version Arthur is reimagined as a British warlord. Cornwell blends battle, politics, and the myth. 

I Am Mordred by Nancy Springer

This is a retelling from Mordred’s point of view which gives it a darker and more emotional tone. The story explores  loyalty, destiny, and the complicated nature of his role in Arthur’s downfall.

The Pendragon Cycle by Stephen R. Lawhead

A sweeping fantasy/historical series (Taliesin, Merlin, Arthur, Pendragon) that leans into Celtic myth and worldbuilding. It is romantic and mystical, and great if you like mythic depth.

The Skystone by Jack Whyte

The opening book in The Camulod Chronicles, a detailed, historically grounded retelling set in post-Roman Britain. It’s comprehensive version of Arthur’s rise, rooted in late antiquity.

Sword at Sunset by Rosemary Sutcliff

This is a more realistic take on Arthur as a Romano-British leader resisting Saxon invasion. Sutcliff’s prose gives Arthur a very human, grounded voice.

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley

This is a book that I love and have read a few times in different stages of my life. By placing the women of Camelot at the centre, Avalon becomes a story about spirituality, power, and what is lost when one worldview replaces another.

Final Thoughts

What draws me to Arthurian legends is the world they create. The medieval setting with castles and candlelit chambers. The idea of a chivalric code and ideals worth striving for (or rebelling against). There is the ancient magic of Merlin and the fairies which provides that supernatural element I’m always drawn to. And finally the female characters of Morgan and Guinevere -  powerful, complex, and not content to stay in the background. Whether Arthur was history or myth doesn’t matter to me - the legend is enduring and through endless retellings, it continues to live on.