Rarely does serious, scholarly, peer-reviewed research into the life of a historic person uncover a factual story like this one, as intriguing as modern mystery-adventure fiction. For centuries, readers have been enthralled by the tales of the doomed Round Table, the mythical King Arthur, and the hopeless love of Guinevere, his queen, and Sir Lancelot, his greatest knight. A great mystery surrounds the author of this timeless work, however. Undeniable evidence indicates that his true identity has been mistaken for hundreds of years.
In these captivating pages, you will learn more about the mysterious author and the secret reason why he didn't seek any attention for himself. You will marvel at the astonishing discovery of an older version of his masterpiece--the greatest fifteenth-century literary work in English--and the shocking place where its source lay hidden for seven hundred years.
While it is certain that a Sir Thomas Malory was the author, more than one man with that name lived during that period. Dr. Cecelia Linton separates the fact from the fiction surrounding this enigma. She reveals answers to such questions as:
- Did the real author actually spend ten years in prison?
- Was he disinherited because he was considered a "by-blow"?
- What do clues such as his dialect tell us about the author's identity?
- Was the author of Le Morte Darthur really a member of the Order of the Knights Hospitallers?
- Who helped inspire the quest for the Holy Grail? (You will be surprised!)
- Do the author's characters and plot reflect his beliefs and lifestyle?
Through Dr. Linton's exhaustive research and extensive findings, you will learn fascinating facts about Malory's family and their society. Most significantly, you will see actual documentation of the man who claimed authorship of Le Morte Darthur, along with pictures relating to his life.
Dr. Linton further examines the possible sources for Malory's account. She relates how Malory adds his own special nuances that indicate he was interested most of all in the transformation of the soul. You will also delight in learning about Malory's craft and whether his life more closely paralleled that of Arthur or Lancelot.
Additionally, you will find out the astonishing connection between King Arthur and the Cistercians and come to appreciate monasticism--especially as reflected in the life of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, as never before. Above all, you will see the faith shine through Malory's tales as he highlights the sacred brotherhood and the calling of the esteemed healers and intrepid warriors of the Order of Knights Hospitallers.
About the Author: Dr. Cecelia Linton credits her detection of a religious vocation in the author of Le Morte Darthur to the fact that she was educated by nuns--they are attuned to such things--in parish schools and then in the venerable Saint Vincent's Academy in Savannah, Georgia, which has been enlightening girls since 1845. Higher education and a long career on the other side of the desk have never overshadowed that early encounter with The Facts of the Matter. When she began reading P. J. C. Field's work concerning Sir Thomas Malory's identity, Linton knew before the end of Chapter I that this book had to be written, and so she has written it, with great joy along the way. She can be found at home, usually with some part of her numerous family, in a certain old house in Manassas, Virginia, or else in another one, even older, in Savannah.
