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King Arthur: Myth-making and History

The legend of King Arthur is one of the most persistent and powerful myths in western culture. Yet scholars today cannot agree on his dates, his location, his role, or even whether he really existed. "King Arthur: Myth-making and History" explores how and why historians and writers from the Middle Ages to the present day have constructed different accounts of this well-loved figure. "King Arthur: Myth-making and History" illuminates and discusses some central points of debate. What role was Arthur intended to perform in the political and cultural worlds that constructed him? How did the idea of King Arthur evolve? And what did the myth of Arthur mean to both authors and their audiences? In this study, N. J. Higham examines in-depth the first two Arthurian texts: the "History of the Britons" and the "Welsh Annals". He argues that historians have often been more influenced by what the idea of Arthur means in their present context than by such primary sources. This study provides a useful insight into why the Arthurian myth has caught the imagination of so many epochs and across so many cultures.

RRP £17.35 Hardcover