Sir Gawain and The Green Knight by Unknown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is one of the stories in the English cycle of Arthurian tales. It’s believed to be written in the late 14th century in the northwestern part of England, perhaps Cheshire. The primary character is Sir Gawain, knight of the Round Table and nephew of King Arthur.

The story begins at Camelot on New Years, with King Arthur and Queen Guinevere presiding over the festivities. Suddenly the celebration is interrupted by the Green Knight – a very large man on a horse, dressed in green, but with green skin and hair as well. The Green Knight issues a challenge which is eventually taken up by Sir Gawain.

I really should stop here for fear of spoilers, but part of the challenge involves Sir Gawain going on a quest to meet the Green Knight on the following New Years, at the Green Chapel. Along the way, Sir Gawain will face both physical and moral challenges.

I have read several of the Arthurian tales, but I hadn’t read Sir Gawain and the Green Knight until now. It’s a really interesting story and I’m glad I read it. The translation is very readable and the notes were very helpful. I definitely recommend this book.