Ernie enjoys The Once and Purple King
T. H. White (1906-1964) was an English novelist best known for his writings about King Arthur, beginning with 1938's The Sword in the Stone. Subsequent writings were later revised and, along with an additional novel The Candle in the Wind, collected as The Once and Future King (1958).
White's tellings of the legends of Arthur formed the basis of the 1960 musical Camelot, while Disney adapted The Sword in the Stone as an animated feature in 1963. The Book of Merlyn, which concluded White's Arthurian saga, was published posthumously in 1977.
References[]
- "The Once and Purple King" Sesame Street story insert takes its title from White's collected edition The Once and Future King.
- The 1999 Sesame Street book Fairy Tales includes "The Sword in the Stone," without acknowledgement to White and reframed as a "once upon a time" story, simplified to Merlin and Arthur coming across the unnamed sword (which had gathered a crowd) and Arthur pulling it.
- The second season Muppet Babies revival episode "The Spoon in the Stone" spoofs The Sword in the Stone.