The Arthurian antecedents of Gene Kemp'sThe Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler

Abstract

Gene Kemp'sThe Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler, the focus of this article, won the Carnegie Medal and The Other Award in 1977. Unlike previous medal winners, the book is set in a primary school populated by children from all kinds of backgrounds, getting on with day-to-day life in the classroom. Despite its very local—even very English—setting, the novel has enjoyed enormous success internationally; its sales in Japan, for example, are extensive.

The book is an established favourite as an all-class reader with children in the age range of eight to twelve. The gender of the central character, Tyke, is not specified until the final chapter, and almost all readers and listeners assume Tyke to be male. When it emerges that Tyke is, in fact, “Theodora” at the end of the novel, the revelation usually provides everything from fury to delight- and not a few rueful smiles.

This discussion of the Arthurian influences in Tyke has the advantage of using hitherto unpublished material concerning two pieces, Gavin and “The Quest,” which Gene Kemp kindly shared with the writer.