The sword in the stone

Neville Jason's approach, he says, is to be "humble to the material" he is working with and to let the "powers of absorption work." It is apt that in this classic retelling of the King Arthur legend, the wizard Merlin often teaches the boy Arthur (aka Wart) by changing him into other creatures - a fish, a bird - to learn by absorption, by being, with empathy being the least of the lessons taught. It is a perfect fit of sensibilities. Jason, who was awarded the Diction Prize by Sir John Gielgud at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, delivers fully developed characters with such warmth and spark that listeners are instantly transported to Sir Ector's castle. Originally written in 1938, this audiobook is perfect for any J.K. Rowling fan, as its humor, intellect and playfulness feels as contemporary as a Harry Potter novel. In fact, Rowling has described White's Wart as "Harry's spiritual ancestor." Combined with the brilliant performance by Jason, what more could a fantasy fan want? (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

In White's classic story about the boyhood of King Arthur, Wart -- unaware of his true identity -- is tutored by Merlyn, who occasionally transforms the young boy into various animals as a part of his schooling. Contemporary children will still enjoy the text, which is both fantastical and down-to-earth, but the well-executed color plates are unfortunately romanticized. From HORN BOOK 1993, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kay and his foster-brother (known as the Wart) are living in the glorious castle of Sir Ector amid the wild and beautiful Forest Sauvage. But they are given a tutor -- the magician Merlyn. And so begins one of the most inventive and charming retellings of the Arthurian legend, the first part of The Once and Future King.Through a series of adventures that involve being turned into animals, an encounter with a very hungry witch and a meeting with the real Robin Hood, Merlyn instructs his young charges in the ways of the world, and broader wisdom too. 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... The British novelist Terence Hanbury White was born in India in 1906. He graduated from Queens' College, Cambridge with a degree in English, and soon became a full-time writer. A naturalist interested in hunting and fishing, his pursuits often influenced his writing. He died in Greece in 1964. Neville Jasontrained at RADA where he was awarded the Diction Prize by Sir John Gielgud. He has worked with the English Stage Company, the Old Vic Company and the RSC as well as in films, TV and musicals. He is frequently heard on radio. His readings for Naxos AudioBooks also include Proust's Remembrance of Things Past, Tolstoy's War and Peaceand Swift's Gulliver's Travels. Excerpted from The Sword in the Stone by T. H. White All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.