The History of the Kings of Britain (Classics) |
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Geoffrey of Monmouth
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Pages: 384 (Paperback)
ISBN: 0140441700
Pub: Penguin Classics
Pub date: 1973-01-25
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 16936
Reader Reviews:
Not the easiest read but improtant if you are interested in the past (2/3 people found this helpful)
This needs reviewing on two levels. The easiest is the translation which is very clear on its sources from the various versions of Geoffrey which exist. It does not give too many footnotes in the text - I would have preferred more as I have little other background on the myth. As a first encounter with the text though this version is very accessible, within limits.
The actual tale as far as I can tell is written to condemn the Saxons (called Angles only once) and paint the real Britons as being of great stock, apparently descended from the Trojans and related to the Romans. The Britons have a long history full of strange names and detail - for example the source of King Lear! All very well until we hit Merlin and Uther Pendragon. There is the story of the conception of Arthur and a massive prophecy from Merlin who then mostly vanishes. The Arthur story has the sword Caliburn and Guinevere, noble knights and great battles. Unknown to me Arthur also conquers Iceland, France and Rome! In fact the book is riddled with attacks on Gaul or by Gaul, and Brittany is of course Amorica and really settled by the Britons. Arthur is betray by Mordred and vanishes of allowing the text to quickly pass through to the ultimate demise of the Britons (apart from a few scattered in the places now recognised as Celtic - Wales, Cornwall and so forth).
So the English are the baddies and thankfully the Normans sorted them out in 1066, but one day the Britons will rise with their King Arthur - what will we English do I wonder?
All in all an amusing read, and shows the power of politics and the seeds of the more modern legends.
Thrilling and exciting (12/20 people found this helpful)
For an twelfth century story-book writer, Monmouth does a very good job. His writing style is both entertaining and informative. He does tend to exaggerate quite a bit regarding accurate information, but the book makes a very good read, and there is a whole section devoted to the first fully developed legend of King Arthur.
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