SOURCE: Vinaver, Eugène. Introduction to The Works of Sir Thomas Malory, edited by Eugène Vinaver, vol. I, pp. xiii-lxxxv. Oxford: At the Clarendon Press, 1947.

In the following essay, Vinaver presents a detailed analysis of Le Morte Darthur, including an overview of its textual history, sources, and critical reception.

The Knight-prisoner

Ever since 1485, when Malory's romances first appeared in print, the only clue to their authorship has been the following paragraph at the end of the book:

I praye you all Ientyl men and Ientyl wymmen that redeth this book of Arthur and his knyghtes from the begynnyng to the endyng praye for me whyle I am on lyue that god sende me good delyueraunce & whan I am deed I praye you all praye for my soule for this book was ended the ix yere of the reygne of kyng edward the fourth by syr Thomas Maleore...