I’m not sure if the compilers of the 2015 Reading Challenge intended for the category “classic romance” to be interpreted in this way, but that’s what I’ve chosen to go for. After all, medieval tales of knights, damsels and dragons were the original romances.
Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur isn’t an easy read, but it is a worthwhile one. The legend of King Arthur had been around before and would continue to pervade European culture for years afterwards – Arthurian tales are still being created and adapted today – but Malory’s version is one of the most famous and influential. I have found myself wanting to reintroduce words like “smite” and “churl” into the language, however.