King Arthur: In Fact and Legend PDF
Preview King Arthur: In Fact and Legend
King Arthur In Fact and Legend by Geoffrey Ashe How did the Arthurian legend begin, and in what forms have writers presented it over the ages? Even more intriguing a question: Did King Arthur and his knights ever exist at all? Geoffrey Ashe explores both paths—the fictional Arthur and the Arthur of historical and archae ological fact. Arthur, King of Britain, became a na tional hero between the years 1150 and 1200. The real ruler during most of that time was Henry II, but the legendary monarch was soon more widely re nowned than the actual one, and his fame in romance has continued ever since. Ashe traces the Arthur of fiction from the Middle Ages to the present day; he also tells the historical and ar chaeological facts of all that is known about the king. This includes an account of the results of recent excavations at South Cadbury, now believed to be the site of the original Camelot. Superb illustrations, maps, and sug gestions for further reading make this a book that will give the reader an excit ing beginning to his own research and stimulate active interest in whatever as pect of Arthur most appeals to him— past, present, or future. Thomas Nelson Inc. Arthur Books by Geoffrey Ashe Aucassin and Nicolette and Other Mediaeval Romances and Legends Gandhi Land to the West: St. Brendan’s Voyage to America The Quest for Arthur’s Britain King Arthur I n F a c t a n d L e g e n d b y Geoffrey Ashe THOMAS NELSON INC. New York / Camden Copyright © 1969, 1971 by Geoffrey Ashe All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Conventions. Published by Thomas Nelson Inc., Camden, New Jersey First U.S. edition Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 70-145922 Standard Book Number: 0-8407-6136-8 Manufactured in the United States of America CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 9 1 THE 'MATTER OF BRITAIN’ AND HOW IT GREW 11 2 MALORY’S STORY 31 3 IN SEARCH OF THE FACTS 49 4 THE CASTLE THAT WAS SOMETHING ELSE 69 5 ‘HERE LIES DRUSTANUS’ 77 6 THE KINGS OF THE BRITONS AT HOME 83 7 THE TOMB AND THE TOR 87 8 IS IT CAMELOT ? 95 9 WHAT ARTHUR’S BRITAIN WAS REALLY LIKE 103 10 HOW ARTHUR DID RETURN 119 11 THE MAP 133 APPENDIX I THE MOST IMPORTANT CHARACTERS 147 APPENDIX II SOME SUGGESTED BOOKS 153 INDEX 155 INDEX REFERENCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS 158
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