John Steinbeck’s last, unfinished written work, The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights, was posthumously published in 1976. In part, Steinbeck set out to retell the exploits of the Knights of the Round Table so that his sons could enjoy reading about them as much as he had enjoyed the stories growing up. Like much of his other work, Steinbeck's King Arthur is characterized by the author's stark, simple style and detailed characterization.