Arthur, High King of Britain — Morpurgo/Foreman 1995

📖 Arthur, High King of Britain by Michael Morpurgo (1995, Harcourt Brace) — a retelling of the King Arthur legends framed through a modern story of a boy who discovers the ancient tales. Illustrated throughout in full color by Michael Foreman, with 113 pages of text and watercolor art. First United States edition, printed in Belgium.

QUICK FACTS

• Author: Michael Morpurgo (b. 1943) — British Children’s Laureate 2003–2005, author of over 100 books including War Horse
• Illustrator: Michael Foreman — Kate Greenaway Medal winner, illustrator of over 300 books
• Publisher: Harcourt Brace & Company, San Diego / New York (UK: Pavilion Books Limited)
• Year: 1995 (First United States Edition, first printing — letter line A B C D E)
• Format: Hardcover (quarto) in dust jacket, illustrated boards
• Pages: 113 | ISBN: 0-15-200080-1
• Condition: Full report below

THE STORY

Morpurgo retells the major episodes of the Arthurian cycle — from the sword in the stone to the fall of Camelot — through a frame narrative in which a modern-day boy, injured and stranded on a remote island, is told the legends by an old man. The tales cover Excalibur, Guinevere and Lancelot, Gawain and the Green Knight, Tristram and Iseult, and the final collapse of the Round Table. Morpurgo’s prose is direct and unadorned, aimed at young readers but respectful of the source material.

THIS EDITION

This is the first United States edition, published by Harcourt Brace & Company in 1995. The UK edition was published by Pavilion Books Limited. The copyright page credits text to Morpurgo and illustrations to Foreman, with jacket illustrations copyright © 1994. Printed in Belgium. The letter line A B C D E confirms first printing. The dust jacket is unclipped at $19.95.

COVER ART & ILLUSTRATIONS

The dust jacket features a dynamic watercolor of King Arthur on horseback, sword raised, against a golden-amber sky — rendered in Foreman’s characteristic painterly style with visible brushstrokes and soft-edged forms. The spine is deep purple with the title in gold. Interior illustrations include full-page watercolors and decorative chapter openers: atmospheric indigo washes for stormy seascapes, warm earth-toned scenes of knights on quest, and a vivid depiction of a confrontation with a green dragon-like creature. Foreman’s palette shifts between deep blues and purples for moody passages and warm golds and greens for heroic moments, with the burgundy endpapers tying the design together.

WHY IT MATTERS

• Michael Morpurgo is one of the most honored children’s authors in Britain — winner of the Whitbread Award, Smarties Prize, and Blue Peter Book Award, with War Horse adapted into a Tony Award-winning Broadway play and Golden Globe-nominated film
• Michael Foreman’s watercolor illustrations for this volume are among his most celebrated, complementing the Arthurian legends with a dreamlike, romantic style that avoids both cartoonishness and overly dark fantasy imagery
• First US edition (1995) with first printing confirmed by letter line A B C D E — collectible as the American debut of this Foreman-illustrated Morpurgo collaboration

FREQUENTLY ASKED

What edition is this? First United States edition, first printing, published by Harcourt Brace & Company in 1995. The UK edition was published by Pavilion Books Limited. The letter line A B C D E on the copyright page confirms first printing.

What condition is it in? Very Good/Very Good+ book with Very Good dust jacket. Full condition report below.

Is the dust jacket included? Yes, the original dust jacket is included and unclipped at $19.95.

FOR COLLECTORS

This Morpurgo/Foreman collaboration is sought after by collectors of both authors’ work. The first US edition with dust jacket in this condition is uncommon — most copies circulating lack the jacket. Foreman’s full-color watercolor illustrations throughout make this a display-worthy volume for Arthurian collections, children’s literature collections, or anyone building a Morpurgo or Foreman shelf.

Condition Report

Overall Grade: Book: Very Good (VG)/Very Good+ (VG+) / Dust Jacket: Very Good (VG)

Cover & Spine: Pictorial boards are clean and square, some minimal rubbing on the lower corner tips. Spine is firm, just a hint of wear at tail corners.

Dust Jacket: Unclipped ($19.95). Front flap upper corner has a small closed tear, some edge wear in places. Spine tail has a 1/2″ closed tear with some chipping.

Text Block & Pages: Pages are clean and off-white with crisp color watercolor illustrations throughout.

Binding: Tight, square binding with intact with solid hinges and gorgeoud illustrated endpapers.

See accompanying images for full condition details. Will ship promptly, carefully packaged.

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