Howard Pyle's book King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table is told from the point of view of a third-person, all-knowing author who is looking back upon the days of old, when knights were bold. The book is set in England during the Middle Ages. The author describes King Arthur as the most honorable, gentle knight who ever lived in the world. Guinevere was Arthur's beautiful but occasionally stormy-tempered queen. Merlin was the greatest of all of Arthur's companions, courageous, wise and gallant but betrayed by the evil actions of the enchantress Morgana le Fay and Vivien, the woman he loved.

             The book begins with tale of how Arthur came to power in Camelot. It tells how he became a king, then a great king, and how he came to we his beloved Queen Guinevere. Arthur was born the son of Uther Pendragon. Merlin prophesized that Uther's son would come to rule over all of England. But for fear of endangering the boy, Arthur was not raised as a royal person. Instead, the young Arthur was forced to serve the arrogant and haughty Sir Kay. But one day, during a tournament, Sir Kay broke his sword. Kay sent Arthur to find him another sword. Arthur pulled the sword Excalibur from a stone, to help Sir Kay. Then Arthur learned that only the future king of England would be able unsheathe the sword. So Arthur became the acknowledged leader of all the land. Merlin's prophecy had come true. But still there were many challenges ahead.

             Arthur had to rally men to his side and overthrow many knights during tournaments before he achieved unquestioned authority upon the throne. The book also relates the many trials of Arthur's assembled knights as well as Arthur's own struggles against villainous people, as Arthur strove to create a good kingdom. Arthur has to show himself worthy of his title, and fight for the hand of his queen. Arthur battles such fierce adversaries as the Sable Knight during his quests.