SOURCE: "Howard Pyle's The Story of King Arthur and His Knights': A Backwards Look at Chivalry," in Touchstones: Reflections on the Best in Children's Literature, Volume Two: Fairy Tales, Fables, Myths, Legends, and Poetry, ChLA, 1987, pp. 221-227.

In the following essay, May discusses Pyle's reinterpretation of the ancient legend of King Arthur, noting his adept updating and organizing of the tales for children.

My fascination with Howard Pyle's version of the King Arthur legends began only after I had become an adult, so I cannot claim that I can remember their childhood appeal, and that I am now returning for a look in terms of my adult response. And since Lloyd Alexander once confessed to me that he had never read the versions by Pyle, I cannot even say that Pyle has been a direct influence on all later authors of fantasy. Yet I think that Pyle's King...