The Once and Future King
— T.H. White

This classic book does a wonderful job of combining authentic tales of Arthurian legends, delightfully memorable characters, truly enjoyable writing, great dramatic storytelling and insightful political commentary. You can read this book over and over again, and come away with a different view of it after each reading. (This is the book that the movie "The Sword and the Stone" and the Broadway musical "Camelot" were based on.)

 
The Lions of the North
The Wolves of the Savernake
The Ravens of Blackwater
— Edward Marston

This wonderful series of mysteries uses an intriguing plot device to peer into 11th century society: The two protagonists are royal auditors investigating “irregularities” uncovered by King William’s 1086 census called the Domesday Book. There is murder, theft, mayhem and scandal in every book, and all must be investigated by a Norman knight and a Saxon cleric, who don’t see eye-to-eye at the best of times. This series (there are seven in all, at last count) provides a rich and detailed look at the social, political and econmic changes taking place in England at this time — and are, at the same time, gripping mysteries. The perfect “summer read” for anyone who wants compelling literature and historical detail, all in one place.

The White Company
Sir Nigel
— Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

These two enjoyable novels by the creator of Sherlock Holmes provide an intriguing look at the true spirit of chivalry and knight errantry in the 14th century at the outset of the Hundred Years War. Although few people today are familiar with these books, the characters are just as rich and complex as those of Doyle's Holmes series.

Morality Play
— Barry Unsworth

This is a murder mystery that reads with the historical accuracy of a university textbook. While the level of detail regarding theatrical performance in the Middle Ages might be intimidating to some readers, anyone who appreciates a well-told story wrapped in a rich historical setting will certainly forgive the author for taking a bit of time to lay out the details of the lives of this traveling troop of 14th century actors who uncover a shocking crime and turn their morality play performance into an early type of investigave journalism. (Editor’s note: This book contains adult themes and a scene of graphic violence — it is not recommended for young readers.)

Le Morte D'Arthur
— Sir Thomas Malory

The definitive collection of the romantic tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, including the tragic love story of Lancelot and Guenever and the Quest for the Holy Grail. (There are many editions and translations of this book; look for the Caxton edition published by the Penguin English Library, ISBN 0-14-043.043-1. This version has an excellent glossary, and just the right amount of footnotes for readers who want an enjoyable story, not a doctoral thesis.)

The Story of King Arthur and His Knights
— Howard Pyle

A very pleasant book which puts the story of Arthur on the same plain as Grimm's Fairy Tales and the stories of Hans Christian Andersen. If your kids are wild about Harry Potter or The Lord of the Rings, try reading this book to them as a way to painlessly cultivate their interest in English literature.

The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights
— John Steinbeck

Few people know that one of America’s greatest authors wrote a brilliant interpretation of Arthurian legend. Unfortunately it was left unfinished at Steinbeck’s death in 1968, so it’s only a partial story, but still very much worth reading.

Firelord
— Parke Godwin

Historical purists may turn up their noses, but this novel is a fun attempt to reconcile the images of Arthur the legendary king with Arthur (or Artorius) the Briton warlord who defended England after the fall of Rome — with just a little bit of wizardry thrown in to keep things interesting.

Here Be Dragons
Falls The Shadow
The Reckoning
— Sharon Kay Penman

These three novels provide an educational look into the culture and politics of England and Wales in the 13th century. The characters in these books are vivid, and the historical background is flawless. The second book, which is a chronicle of the great knight and political reformer Simon de Montfort, is especially recommended.