Retelling Idylls of the King
Arthurian
Introduction
This is the Mythopouch retelling of Alfred, Lord Tennyson's Idylls of the King, checked against the public-domain 1896 Henry Altemus edition. It is a modern educational prose reading for readers aged 15 and up.
The retelling follows nine selected idylls from Arthur's rise through Geraint and Enid, Merlin and Vivien, Lancelot and Elaine, the Grail quest, Pelleas and Ettarre, the last tournament, Guinevere and Arthur's final passing. It is original Mythopouch wording and is not Tennyson's verse or a transcription.
What this retelling is
The retelling is arranged as nine narrative chapters:
1. The Coming of Arthur
2. Geraint and Enid
3. Merlin and Vivien
4. Lancelot and Elaine: The Lily Maid of Astolat
5. The Holy Grail
6. Pelleas and Ettarre
7. The Last Tournament
8. Guinevere
9. The Passing of Arthur
It also includes A Note on Themes and a Source Note. The complete retelling is 11 pages including the title and contents pages.
The 1896 source edition also contains Gareth and Lynette, which remains outside the scope of this selected prose retelling. Balin and Balan is not present in the 1896 Henry Altemus edition and is therefore not included in this source-matched version.
How to use it with the Sources page
Use Idylls of the King (Sources) when you want Tennyson's historical text in the public-domain 1896 Henry Altemus edition. That source preserves the verse and the arrangement of the edition itself.
Use this Retellings page when you want the main arc presented as modern educational prose. The selected retelling concentrates on Arthur's founding ideals, the failures of trust and loyalty inside Camelot, the Holy Grail quest, the fracture caused by Lancelot and Guinevere, and Arthur's final battle and departure.
The source edition includes Gareth and Lynette, but that idyll is outside the selected retelling. The same source does not contain Balin and Balan, so it is not treated as part of this source-matched Mythopouch version.
Summary
A modern 15+ Mythopouch prose retelling of nine selected Idylls of the King, from Arthur's rise through the Grail and Camelot's collapse to Arthur's passing.
Copyright Note
Mythopouch original educational wording and layout. Copyright Mythopouch 2026. Alfred, Lord Tennyson's text and the 1896 Henry Altemus edition are public-domain source material. The historical source PDF is supplied separately on the Sources page.