Synopsis
Written in 1136 by Geoffrey of Monmouth, the Historia Regum Britanniae (History of the Kings of Britain) purported to chronicle the British monarchy from the arrival of the Trojan Brutus, grandson of Aeneas, through to the seventh century AD when the Anglo-Saxons had taken control of the land. The Historia was a medieval bestseller, and copies spread across the whole of western Europe. It went on to influence great works of art and literature, being the first to outline the story of King Arthur as well as laying the foundations for King Lear and Cymbeline, both later immortalised by Shakespeare.Although it claimed to be history, the Historia has long been dismissed as an unreliable piece of medieval propaganda and national mythmaking. A new examination of the text, however, shows that it is very much more than that. In this ground-breaking new book, Miles Russell explains how individual elements of the Historia can be traced back to the first century BC, a time when Britain was making first contact with Rome. Geoffrey of Monmouth’s skill was to weave these early traditions together with folklore and material culled from post-Roman sources, in order to create a national epic. In doing so, he also created King Arthur, a composite character whose real origins and context are explained here.This important new work establishes Geoffrey of Monmouth as no mere peddler of historical fiction, but as the man who preserved the earliest foundation myths of Britain. It is time to re-evaluate the Historia Regum Britanniae and shine a new light into the so-called ‘Dark Ages’.
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About the Author
Dr Miles Russell is a senior lecturer in archaeology in the Faculty of Science and Technology at Bournemouth University and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London. His research and publications focus on the prehistoric and Roman periods and he is is currently involved in fieldwork across southern Britain. Miles is a regular contributor to television and radio.
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Arthur and the Kings of Britain: The Historical Truth Behind the Myths
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Amberley Publishing, Stroud, Gloucestershire, 2017
ISBN 10: 1445662744
ISBN 13: 9781445662749
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Seller: Vintagestan Books, Waltham, LINCS, United Kingdom
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Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. VINTAGESTAN BOOKS Title: Arthur and The Kings of Britain. The Historical Truth Behind The Myths Summary: Written in 1136 by Geoffrey of Monmouth, the Historia Regum Britanniae (History of the Kings of Britain) purported to chronicle the British monarchy from the arrival of the Trojan Brutus, grandson of Aeneas, through to the seventh century AD when the Anglo-Saxons had taken control of the land. The Historia was a medieval bestseller, and copies spread across the whole of western Europe. It went on to influence great works of art and literature, being the first to outline the story of King Arthur as well as laying the foundations for King Lear and Cymbeline, both later immortalised by Shakespeare. Although it claimed to be history, the Historia has long been dismissed as an unreliable piece of medieval propaganda and national mythmaking. A new examination of the text, however, shows that it is very much more than that. In this ground-breaking new book, Miles Russell explains how individual elements of the Historia can be traced back to the first century BC, a time when Britain was making first contact with Rome. Geoffrey of Monmouth's skill was to weave these early traditions together with folklore and material culled from post-Roman sources, in order to create a national epic. In doing so, he also created King Arthur, a composite character whose real origins and context are explained here. This important new work establishes Geoffrey of Monmouth as no mere peddler of historical fiction, but as the man who preserved the earliest foundation myths of Britain. It is time to re-evaluate the Historia Regum Britanniae and shine a new light into the so-called 'Dark Ages'. Author: Miles Russell Publisher: Amberley, Stroud, Gloucestershire Year Published: 2017 Edition: 1st Edition Dimensions: 24cm x 15.5cm Binding type: Hardcover ISBN: 9781445662749 Notes: SKU: VSS / 264 / H / 7124 / 5460 Condition Dust Jacket Condition: Very good. Handling marks Book condition: Very good. Handling marks, marks Binding: Intact Pages: 320 pages. Seller Inventory # 005460
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Arthur and the Kings of Britain: The Historical Truth Behind the Myths
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Paperback. Condition: Very Good. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR008169025
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