I was done with textbooks and was looking for an English legendary story. I remembered Arthur as a legendary English king.

While watching the movie ‘Jackie‘, in which Natalie Portman portrays J.F. Kennedy’s wife, she mentioned a song called ‘Camelot‘ as one of his favorites. Since then, I have been searching for a modern version of Arthurian stories, and today, I finally found one: T.H. White’s ‘The Once and Future King‘.

There is one specific movie you may want to watch on this topic:
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

1: Was Arthur Real?

While there is no definitive proof that Arthur was real person, his legend is deeply tied to early British history and national identity. It is believed that Arthur has been a legendary warrior from the 5th or 6th century, during the time after the Roman Empire withdrew from Britain (circa 410 AD).

Even he may not have been a real historical king, but his legend was shaped by real historical struggles, especially the British resistance to Saxon invasions. Over time, Arthur evolved from a possible warrior leader into a mythical symbol of British and medieval chivalry.

2: T.H. White: A Life Shaped by Literature and Solitude

Terence Hanbury White (1906–1964) with his book ‘The Once and Future King (1958)’ transformed the medieval myths of King Arthur into a timeless exploration of power, morality, and human nature.

Born in Bombay, India, during British colonial rule, White was sent to England for schooling at a young age. He later attended Queen’s College, Cambridge, where he studied English literature under the renowned scholar A.E. Housman. It was during this time that White developed an obsession with medieval history, mythology, and chivalry—a passion that would define his life’s work.

Despite his talent, White was a deeply private and eccentric man. He spent much of his life living in rural isolation, particularly in a remote cottage in Ireland, where he immersed himself in Arthurian history, falconry, and medieval lore. He was fascinated by the moral dilemmas of power and leadership, themes that would later define his version of Arthur’s tale.

3: Reinventing Arthur: “The Once and Future King”

In 1938, White stumbled upon Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur (1485), the classic medieval chronicle of Arthur and his knights. Instead of merely retelling the legend, White reimagined it in a deeply psychological and satirical way, giving it new relevance for the modern world.

Published in four parts between 1938 and 1958, The Once and Future King takes readers from Arthur’s childhood (as the lovable “Wart”) to his tragic downfall. Unlike past versions, White’s Arthur is a humanist king, struggling with the burdens of ruling a flawed society.

• Book 1: The Sword in the Stone (1938): A whimsical look at Arthur’s youth, guided by the eccentric wizard Merlyn, who transforms him into animals to teach him lessons about power.
• Book 2: The Queen of Air and Darkness (1939): A darker tale of Arthur’s early reign, introducing the seeds of tragedy (Morgause, Mordred).
• Book 3: The Ill-Made Knight (1940): A deep dive into Lancelot, his inner struggles, and the doomed love affair with Guinevere.
• Book 4: The Candle in the Wind (1958) – Arthur’s fall, as Mordred’s rebellion leads to the collapse of Camelot.

The novel was groundbreaking because it humanized the legendary figures, showing Arthur as a flawed but noble leader who sought to build a just kingdom through logic rather than violence. The tragedy of his downfall reflects White’s own disillusionment with war and human nature, especially in the aftermath of World War II.

4: Arthur for a Modern World

T.H. White’s retelling of Arthurian history was unlike anything before it. Instead of glorifying medieval chivalry, he questioned it—highlighting its contradictions, the cruelty of war, and the flaws of kingship. His Arthur was not just a warrior but a thinker, a dreamer, and ultimately, a tragic idealist.

The book’s influence extends beyond literature—it directly inspired Disney’s The Sword in the Stone (1963) and was the primary inspiration for Broadway’s Camelot (1960), which later became linked to John F. Kennedy’s presidency. White’s version of Arthur continues to influence modern fantasy, from J.K. Rowling to George R.R. Martin.

5: Legacy and Final Years

Despite his literary success, White remained an outsider, living in solitude and struggling with depression and self-doubt. He passed away in 1964 at the age of 57, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most innovative Arthurian storytellers of all time.

Through The Once and Future King, T.H. White ensured that Arthur’s legend would remain eternal—both as a hopeful vision of humanity’s potential and a cautionary tale of its failures.