King of the Middle March

In the final book of the Arthur Trilogy, young hero Arthur de Caldicot ventures to an island off the coast of Venice as the Fourth Crusade is about to begin. As the story of Arthur's coming-of-age and knighthood unfolds, Arthur's "seeing stone" reveals to him the world of the legendary King Arthur as disharmony spreads among the Knights of the Round Table. Weaving these two stories together takes the skill of a masterful author. Narrating the shifting settings and the diverse cast of characters, along with the pageantry, brutality, and reality of the crusading experience, is a tall order. Michael Maloney rises to the challenge. Whether it's the dignity of the dying King Arthur, the lilt of the serving maid, or the resounding sagacity of the wizard Merlin, Maloney gives voice to each. Listeners will find much to savor in this recording. A.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

October 1, 2004
Third in the Arthur trilogy, King of the Middle March by Kevin Crossley-Holland begins amidst attempts to launch a European crusade against the Saracens. Young Arthur-who views the actions of the legendary king through the magic stone of the launch title, The Seeing Stone-struggles to understand why Saracens are sworn enemies and to deal with his tempestuous father. In a starred review of the series debut, PW called Arthur a "clever, ethical and passionate hero." .