T.H. White's The Sword in the Stone is a fantasy novel about Wart, a fatherless young boy who is mentored by the wizard Merlyn and has various adventures that prepare him to become king. First published in 1938, it is the first book in White's The Once and Future King tetralogy of novels dealing with Wart's eventual ascent to the throne, as King Arthur.
The chapters of the novel follow Wart on his different escapades, introducing various characters and showing the lessons he learns along the way. Our first introduction to Wart details his friendship with a boy named Kay, the son of local noble Sir Ector. Wart is cared for by Ector and does not know the identity of his true father. Wandering through the forest one day, he encounters the wizard Merlyn, who agrees to tutor both him and Kay. Merlyn educates them both, but allows Wart to have magical quests. In one instance, he transforms into a hawk and meets a militaristic group of falcons. In another, he becomes a perch and encounters a ferocious pike in the castle's moat. Later, Wart takes Kay on an extended trip where they meet Robin Hood and his band of fellow hunters in the woods. They discover that some of their friends have been kidnapped. They go all together to rescue them and then do battle with some griffins. Wart slowly gleans valuable knowledge from each episode. Years go by and eventually Kay prepares to be knighted. Feeling dispirited about his future as a squire, Wart becomes glum. Around the same time, everyone learns of a sword buried in an anvil in London that will supposedly determine the future king of England, as the old king has just died. Kay demands that they go try to pull it out and they all travel to London. Wart accidentally pulls the sword free and, after some deliberation, is named king. Merlyn reveals to him that his father was actually King Pendragon and that all this time he was secretly preparing him to ascend the throne.
Originally published in 1938, the novel received great critical acclaim, winning the retrospective Hugo Award for Best Novel of 1939 in 2014. It is regularly included on best-of lists for young-adult and fantasy literature. In 1939, it was adapted into a radio play by the BBC, with music from noted British composer Benjamin Britten. Walt Disney also adapted the novel in 1963, albeit with significant changes to the plot and content.
