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  • The Once and Future King

  • By: T. H. White
  • Narrated by: Neville Jason
  • Length: 33 hrs
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (462 ratings)
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The Once and Future King cover art

The Once and Future King

By: T. H. White
Narrated by: Neville Jason
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Summary

The complete "box set" of T. H. White's epic fantasy novel of the Arthurian legend. The novel is made up of five parts: "The Sword in the Stone", "The Witch in the Wood", "The Ill-Made Knight", "The Candle in the Wind", and "The Book of Merlyn".

Merlyn instructs the Wart (Arthur) and his brother, Sir Kay, in the ways of the world. One of them will need it: the king has died, leaving no heir, and a rightful one must be found by pulling a sword from an anvil resting on a stone. In the second and third parts of the novel, Arthur has become king and the kingdom is threatened from the north. In the final two books, the ageing king faces his greatest challenge, when his own son threatens to overthrow him. In "The Book of Merlyn", Arthur's tutor Merlyn reappears and teaches him that, even in the face of apparent ruin, there is hope.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©1939, 1940, 1958 T. H. White (P)2008 Naxos Audiobooks

Critic reviews

AudioFile Earphones Award, 2009

"For those who have never read these five books, prepare to be surprised by their adultness, their laugh-out-loud humor and tongue-in-cheek commentary on modern life; for those who know them well, prepare to be delighted with Neville Jason's transcendent reading. The lovely timbre of his narrative voice, his rhythmic, easy pacing and host of individual characterizations transport listeners into White's weird and wonderful otherworld as quickly as Alice slipped through the looking glass. This long production is so entrancing that one wishes it would never end." (AudioFile

What listeners say about The Once and Future King

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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    233
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Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Magical

Though I liked all the books, the first was my favourite. Captivated from the first words and the narration is excellent; as good as Stephen Fry in the Potter books. Neville Jason manages all the parts beautifully and with enthusiasm. Well worth the money.

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32 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • J
  • 26-07-12

An old favourite made even more enjoyable

One of my favourite books from childhood. When you listen again as an adult you appreciate fully the
wit and wisdom of the author. Neville Jason's narration is delightful, capturing the many characters perfectly.

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18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Historical story but with made up events too

The Once And Future King is a very interesting story, I would suggest listening to it in little stages so you can come back for more of it later - there is a lot of information to take in! The Once and Future King is a story set in the past, but the story is made up. The tutor is a wizard... which is lots of fun.

Jodie age 14

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The all encompasing Arthur

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I do recommend this but you do have to be dedicated, it is a long "read". The story is of course interesting but TH White's discussions on everything from falconry to warfare, from costume to food, from fortifications to manners are a revelation.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Not sure - Merlin probably; for the humour and his knowledge of the future. The warnings of what was to happen in nazi Germany were fascinating especially as, I believe, it was written around 1938.

Which character – as performed by Neville Jason – was your favourite?

Lancelot - he was ugly, lovable, completely moral (that should go first) and just GOOD.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No - it was so long and intricate it had to be taken in bites (whilst I was ironing - I grew to love ironing).

Any additional comments?

I cried at the end and I don't know if it was the story or the fact that the story had come to an end.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Full of delights

Such a delightful book. Neville Jason is an amazing narrator. His voices are varied and so apt for the characters. Makes me feel like a child again.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Let Down

Knowing the books well I was very let down by the narrator who sounds like Brian Sewell with a sour taste in his mouth.

Be warned, listen to the sample before buying to check you can live with the style of reading.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

Love love love it. Everybody should read\listen to it immediately and act accordingly.
It's like listening to Compared to What by Roberta Flack or toast & butter (salted butter, your majesty). It just makes sense. Good and the product of much considered work and ready and fresh and valuable. And beautiful.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Starts well, ends up as an author's soapbox

Any additional comments?

Beautifully read by Neville Jason, this series of books starts well with a comical tale of Arthur's boyhood, but the rest of the books become heavy going, and especially towards the end seems nothing more than a soapbox for the author to preach from.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

One of the best books of my life.

Great book, brilliantly read. incredibly funny, tragic, thoughtful, poignant, relevant, beautiful and vulnerable. Just superb!

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Disappointingly dull



Be warned, I gave this one star before realizing that I couldn't remove it! Although I wanted so very much to love these books .... If only I'd known how lacking in description and dull these books were I wouldn't have struggled on for so long hoping for some improvement. As it was I became more and more disheartened and frustrated the more I listened.

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4 people found this helpful