Reading List

August 5, 2009

The Sword in the Stone by T. H. White

Another Walt Disney story. It is surprising that a lot of the “foolishness” that goes on in the Disney movie is actually in the book. Yes, the Wart is turned into a fish – and a bird – and in the book he is also an owl – and a snake – and a badger. In the book he fights with giants and cavorts with Robin Hood and fights with two sorceresses – and one of them is Mad Madam Mim and she does have a magician’s duel with Merlin just like in the Disney movie. Of course in the book, it is much more important that Merlin wins, because Mim is about to cook and eat the Wart. And yes, in the Book, Merlin does go off to modern day Bermuda for a holiday of sorts. But in the book there is so very much more. It is rich in the ways of medieval England – and has that mixed in with a lot of 20th century references. The things that the Wart does each have a purpose in his education to become the future king. On the cover plates of the book there is the statement that you either don’t like this book – because it is so unreal – or you love it. There is no I liked it a little bit. Me – well I loved it.

It is one of the 501 – with good reason.