The Arthur Trilogy
Posted on the 29th September, 2025
Why we chose it
A beautifully told story which brings to vivid life both the world of a medieval manor and the world of King Arthur. Kevin Crossley-Holland is a poet and storyteller. His writing is characterised by vivid description using few words and has the rhythms of poetry and of stories told aloud.
Where it came from
Kevin Crossley-Holland had long wanted to write about King Arthur. Inspired by a piece of obsidian on his desk the idea came to him of linking King Arthur’s story with the story of the boy Arthur, growing from childhood to adulthood in the Welsh marches.
Where it went next
The Seeing Stone won numerous awards including the Tir Na Og award and the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize. It was short listed for the Whitbread Children’s Book of the Year and the trilogy has been published in 21 countries.
A fourth novel, Gatty’s Tale tells the story of one of the characters from the trilogy, a girl who travels with other pilgrims from Wales, through Europe to Jerusalem.
Associated stories
Kevin Crossley Holland has written numerous books for children. He is highly acclaimed for his retellings of folk stories and legends, most recently Norse Myths, Tales of Thor, Odin and Loki, illustrated by Alan Love and Between Worlds, Folk Tales of Britain and Ireland. Folk tales and local stories inspire his novels. Two stories set in 1950s Norfolk, Storm and Waterslain Angels, draw on local legends while Bracelet of Bones and Scramasax, tell the story of Solveig a Viking girl who travels to Miklagard (Constantinople) in search of her father.