THE ADVENTURES OF SIR LANCELOT THE GREAT

Rejoice, fans of the Squire’s Tales, Morris is finally bringing his terrific recastings of Arthurian legend to a younger audience. Setting out to join King Arthur’s knights because they have “the bravest hearts, the noblest souls, and the shiniest armor in all the world,” Lancelot so easily defeats all of his peers in mock battles that he is forced into (temporary) retirement. He has plenty of other adventures too, from being imprisoned by female admirers to foiling a plot to force Arthur into condemning his beloved queen. Combining strength, a good heart, sharp intelligence and a fondness for afternoon naps, Lancelot reflects Morris’s view that true heroes are good in fights, but equally capable of solving problems nonviolently, and of not letting all the shiny armor go to their heads. A happily-ever-after ending replaces the tragic love affair with Guinevere, but strict adherence to traditional versions never has been Morris’s practice. Renier reflects the generally light mood with simply drawn full-page and spot-cartoon scenes of knights and damsels. More, please. (Fantasy. 9-11)