Morris, Gerald. The ballad of Sir Dinadan.

Houghton Mifflin. 245p. c2003. 0-618-19099-6. JS

We return with Gerald Morris to another tale from the King Arthur stories, told with wit and imagination. (His other books have been well received, especially The Squire, His Knight, & His Lady, an ALA Best Book for YAs.) Sir Dinadan, younger brother of Tristan (remember Tristan and Isolde?) mostly helps people in a knightly way by using his imagination and not his physical prowess--really he isn't a trained fighter. He is a gifted musician, who can turn any story into a ballad. But minstrels aren't knights, even though Dinadan sits on his horse in such a way that he can sing and play his rebec with ease as he rides. The chapters relate a variety of adventures, many of which are a retelling of the Tristan and Isolde story, which Morris pretty much lampoons. Knights of the Round Table make their appearance in many of the stories: Sir Kai, Sir Bedivere, King Arthur himself. Above all is Morris's sense of fun--and his intelligent retelling of familiar stories.