any recommended books for absolute beginners? like only learning the absolute basics of the basics of arthurian mythology? and would you recommend certain translaters for those in particular? thank you <33
I have a Beginner's Guide to Medieval Arthuriana as well as Hi-Lo Arthuriana master posts for you to check out.
Another thing you could do that's fun is browse some of the books that give you an overview of everything. And I mean everything.
There's Phyllis Ann Karr's The Arthurian Companion which discusses all the characters who appear in Le Morte d'Arthur including their coats of arms and provides some quotations from the characters to give you a taste oftheir personlity.
There's Christopher W. Bruce's The Name Dictionary which covers all characters in all texts (with w handful of absences)! You may discover a character in particular who interests you and that you'd like to learn more about from there, all of their appearances are listed under their entries. You can read stories about them found @arthurianpreservationproject or go to my Recommendations page and find a list of all media I personally rec of the characters including films.
If you want a little warm up before reading, you could watch Dr. Dorsey Armstrong's Great Courses Lecture Series, she also has a translation of Le Morte d'Arthur that I reference all the time.
I hope that gives you some options! If there's anything else you need, don't hesitate to ask. Take care! :^)