English author of the prose romance Le Morte
d'Arthur about 1470. It is a translation from
French, modified by material from other
sources, and deals with the exploits of King
Arthur's knights of the Round Table and the
quest for the Grail. Malory's identity is
uncertain. He is thought to have been the
Warwickshire landowner of that name who was a
member of Parliament for Warwick in 1445 and
in 1451 and 1452 was charged with rape,
theft, and attempted murder. If that is so,
he must have compiled Morte d'Arthur during
his 20 years in Newgate prison.