ABSTRACT
Twentieth-century responses to the figure of King Arthur have ranged through every hue of the spectrum. To some authors he is an idealized figure, an inspiration to all who seek a nobler way of life, while to others he is an unscrupulous and brutal tyrant, spreading fear and terror among foes and followers alike; some perceive him as a man of destiny who shapes events through the force of his personality and vision, while others see only a struggling swimmer, soon swept away by the fierce tide of events beyond his control; some exalt his triumphs over rebellious Britons and invading Scots and Saxons alike; some lament the tragedy and pathos of his fate, betrayed by his wife and best friend; some rage against his follies as he squanders the chance to save his people; some laugh at the comical predicaments into which his aspirations lead him. Between these extremes just about every shade and combination of opinion may be found.
