The Discovery of King Arthur

From the great medieval romances to the works of T. H. White and Mary Stewart, King Arthur has inspired more works of fiction than almost any other legend. But what about the real King Arthur? In this exciting historical detective story, the distinguished historian Geoffrey Ashe cuts through the myths and proves Arthur not only existed, but was more like the Arthur of legend than historians ever suspected. Ashe first traces the myth of King Arthur to its roots in the twelfth-century writings of Geoffrey of Monmouth and shows how much of Geoffrey's fifth-century history was based on fact. Then, by challenging scholars' previous assumptions about where Arthur could he found, Ashe identifies the real King Arthur, and shows how his theory fits several strands of evidence. Finally, Ashe describes the growth of the Arthur myth, a myth which even in the twentieth century still holds us firmly in its spell. Myths, legends, and literary mysteries mix with maps, relics, and historical facts in The Discovery of King Arthur. Scholars, students, and general readers of all ages have wondered—for centuries—about whether Britain was ever really ruled by an Arthur who held court at a place called Camelot. In this book, the distinguished scholar Geoffrey Ashe offers convincing proof that King Arthur not only existed, but was more like the Arthur of legend than historians have previously suspected.

In this exciting study, drawing upon myriad sources both literary and historical, Ashe traces the legend of King Arthur to its roots in the twelfth-century chronicles of Geoffrey of Monmouth. He then illustrates that a great deal of Geoffrey's history, which set out ot depict events and persons of fifth-century Britain, was based on fact. After challenging previous assumptions about where Arthur's court and other remnants can be found, Ashe identifies the real King Arthur and provides powerful evidence to support his theory.

Riothamus, an actual fifth-century British monarch, is the figure whom Ashe painstakingly identifies. But his study also investigates the histories behind other Arthurian phenomena, such as the key concepts of knighthood and chivalry. Throughout the book, the swep and grandeur of a tumultuous era in British and European history is vividly recounted as Ashe describes the origins and development of the Arthurian legend—a legend that seems to grow ever more enchanting and spellbinding.