--- product_id: 62511758 title: "Arthurian Romances (Penguin Classics)" price: "NZ$64" currency: NZD in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.nz/products/62511758-arthurian-romances-penguin-classics store_origin: NZ region: New Zealand --- # 4.6/5 star reader rating Classic Arthurian tales Epic medieval adventures Arthurian Romances (Penguin Classics) **Price:** NZ$64 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > ⚔️ Unlock the legendary saga that defined chivalry and romance! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Arthurian Romances (Penguin Classics) - **How much does it cost?** NZ$64 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.nz](https://www.desertcart.nz/products/62511758-arthurian-romances-penguin-classics) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Deep Human Themes:** Explore intelligent reflections on love, honor, and personal growth. - • **Unfinished Mystique:** Engage with the legendary, open-ended Grail quest that inspired generations. - • **Vivid, Lively Prose:** Experience crisp dialogue and nonstop action that bring medieval romance to life. - • **Timeless Arthurian Legends:** Dive into the foundational myths that shaped Western storytelling. - • **Critically Acclaimed Classic:** Join thousands of readers who rate this essential epic a stellar 4.6/5. ## Overview Arthurian Romances (Penguin Classics) offers a masterful collection of medieval tales translated into vivid prose, blending epic adventure with profound insights on love and honor. With a 4.6-star rating from over 300 readers, this new store stock edition is a must-have for anyone craving the timeless allure of King Arthur’s world. ## Description Taking the legends surrounding King Arthur and weaving in new psychological elements of personal desire and courtly manner, Chrétien de Troyes fashioned a new form of medieval Romance. The Knight of the Cart is the first telling of the adulterous relationship between Lancelot and Arthur's Queen Guinevere, and in The Knight with the Lion Yvain neglects his bride in his quest for greater glory. Erec and Enide explores a knight's conflict between love and honour, Cligés exalts the possibility of pure love outside marriage, while the haunting The Story of the Grail chronicles the legendary quest. Rich in symbolism, these evocative tales combine closely observed detail with fantastic adventure to create a compelling world that profoundly influenced Malory, and are the basis of the Arthurian legends we know today. Review: A MUST-BUY BOOK! - I really can't say enough in praise of this wonderful book. Each poem is translated into prose in a lively and vivid style. The dialogue is crisp and natural and the action non-stop. But Chretien's intentions go even deeper than merely telling cracking yarns. Each are sensitive and intelligent explorations of human nature. Marital love is ever an important theme in Chretien. In Erec and Enide, the hero neglects his knightly reputation in order to devote himself to his new bride, and in Yvain the hero does the opposite and neglects his bride for valour. Both must set off on a series of adventures that culminate in them seeing the error of their ways and setting matters right. Lancelot is an excellent story, though rather odd in that the theme this time is an adulterous relationship, that of Lancelot and Guinevere. Nowhere does Chretien condemn this relationship, despite negative references elsewhere to the shameful adulterous love between Tristan and Iseult. In Kibler's introduction he suggests that the theme may have been suggested by Chretien's patroness. Perhaps, then, Chretien was anxious not to offend the French Court. At any rate, he didn't bother to finish the romance and gave it to someone else to do (the ending is included in this book). In Perceval Chretien masterfully captures the naivete of the young hero, and he delivers the most mysterious, powerful and influential Arthur story of all. Here we see the holy grail, the bleeding lance and the castle of maidens, all of which have become essential ingredients in Arthurian lore. It's unfinished state presented an irresistible challenge to later poets, some of whom tried to finish it off, others who went back to the beginning and offered their own interpretations. The only story that sometimes gets a little static is Cliges, where the characters occasionally go off into protracted musings on the nature of love. But once you've got past these bits, which to be fair are intelligent insights, it's still a fine read. All in all, I hugely recommend this book. And if it doesn't want to make you start exploring Mallory, Von Eschenbach, and the rest, you've got no romance in your soul! Review: Classic - I read these first as a young child which inspired an life long interest in the legends of King Arthur and his knights. I have read them again, and I consider them to be essential reading for anyone with an interest in these stories. Excellent. A absolute classic. ## Features - New Store Stock ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | 163,661 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 87 in Epics 128 in Classical, Early & Medieval Poetry 669 in Poetry & Drama Criticism | | Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 335 Reviews | ## Images ![Arthurian Romances (Penguin Classics) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91hLOI6ndTL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A MUST-BUY BOOK! *by B***D on 23 August 2003* I really can't say enough in praise of this wonderful book. Each poem is translated into prose in a lively and vivid style. The dialogue is crisp and natural and the action non-stop. But Chretien's intentions go even deeper than merely telling cracking yarns. Each are sensitive and intelligent explorations of human nature. Marital love is ever an important theme in Chretien. In Erec and Enide, the hero neglects his knightly reputation in order to devote himself to his new bride, and in Yvain the hero does the opposite and neglects his bride for valour. Both must set off on a series of adventures that culminate in them seeing the error of their ways and setting matters right. Lancelot is an excellent story, though rather odd in that the theme this time is an adulterous relationship, that of Lancelot and Guinevere. Nowhere does Chretien condemn this relationship, despite negative references elsewhere to the shameful adulterous love between Tristan and Iseult. In Kibler's introduction he suggests that the theme may have been suggested by Chretien's patroness. Perhaps, then, Chretien was anxious not to offend the French Court. At any rate, he didn't bother to finish the romance and gave it to someone else to do (the ending is included in this book). In Perceval Chretien masterfully captures the naivete of the young hero, and he delivers the most mysterious, powerful and influential Arthur story of all. Here we see the holy grail, the bleeding lance and the castle of maidens, all of which have become essential ingredients in Arthurian lore. It's unfinished state presented an irresistible challenge to later poets, some of whom tried to finish it off, others who went back to the beginning and offered their own interpretations. The only story that sometimes gets a little static is Cliges, where the characters occasionally go off into protracted musings on the nature of love. But once you've got past these bits, which to be fair are intelligent insights, it's still a fine read. All in all, I hugely recommend this book. And if it doesn't want to make you start exploring Mallory, Von Eschenbach, and the rest, you've got no romance in your soul! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Classic *by M***S on 4 March 2020* I read these first as a young child which inspired an life long interest in the legends of King Arthur and his knights. I have read them again, and I consider them to be essential reading for anyone with an interest in these stories. Excellent. A absolute classic. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Four Stars *by A***A on 21 November 2015* Arrived in good time, satisfied with purchase. ## Frequently Bought Together - Arthurian Romances (Penguin Classics) - The History of the Kings of Britain (Penguin Classics) - The Quest of the Holy Grail (Penguin Classics), Packaging May Vary --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.nz/products/62511758-arthurian-romances-penguin-classics](https://www.desertcart.nz/products/62511758-arthurian-romances-penguin-classics) --- *Product available on Desertcart New Zealand* *Store origin: NZ* *Last updated: 2026-06-01*