King Arthur: Medieval British Literature and Modern Critical Tradition
By Andrew Breeze
Uppsala Books
ISBN: 978-1-961361-25-6
This book revives the debate over who King Arthur was and whether he was a historical figure. It also examines his portrayal in medieval Welsh and English literature and the ways modern scholars have interpreted those traditions.
Excerpt:
Many books have been written about Arthur since (according to the chronicles) he died like a hero in 537 at Camlan or Castlesteads, a Roman Wall fort near Carlisle in north-west England. But, right or wrong, King Arthur is unlike any of them. In its first chapter is set out evidence for Arthur as a sixth-century British warrior fighting other North Britons in what is now southern Scotland and the Borders. It challenges (one hopes) the orthodoxy promulgated since the 1970s on Arthur’s being legendary.
Who is this book for?
It would be fair to say that this book presents a minority view of who King Arthur actually was: a sixth-century military commander from northern Britain. This argument is followed by a survey of Arthur’s appearance in major works of medieval Welsh and English literature, along with an examination of how twentieth- and twenty-first-century scholars have interpreted those texts.
The book’s ideal audience may be specialists in Arthurian literature, some of whom may even find their own scholarship discussed in its pages. It covers an immense amount of research, and a young scholar just entering the field could easily find it overwhelming. However, for anyone seeking a deep dive into the historical Arthur, his development as a literary figure and the scholarship surrounding him, this is a book worth having on the shelf.
“The volume is surely a fundamental study for the academic community, as it offers an exhaustive overview of the major developments – and occasional missteps – in Arthurian scholarship. Breeze delves into the existing literature while consistently remaining attentive to the direct sources and their role in the construction of the Arthur we know today.” ~ review by Laura Poggesi in English Studies.
The Author
Andrew Breeze is a professor of philology at the University of Navarra, where he specializes in medieval Celtic languages and literature. This is one of several works he has done related to the Arthurian tradition.
King Arthur: Medieval British Literature and Modern Critical Tradition
By Andrew Breeze
Uppsala Books
ISBN: 978-1-961361-25-6
This book revives the debate over who King Arthur was and whether he was a historical figure. It also examines his portrayal in medieval Welsh and English literature and the ways modern scholars have interpreted those traditions.
Excerpt:
Many books have been written about Arthur since (according to the chronicles) he died like a hero in 537 at Camlan or Castlesteads, a Roman Wall fort near Carlisle in north-west England. But, right or wrong, King Arthur is unlike any of them. In its first chapter is set out evidence for Arthur as a sixth-century British warrior fighting other North Britons in what is now southern Scotland and the Borders. It challenges (one hopes) the orthodoxy promulgated since the 1970s on Arthur’s being legendary.
Who is this book for?
It would be fair to say that this book presents a minority view of who King Arthur actually was: a sixth-century military commander from northern Britain. This argument is followed by a survey of Arthur’s appearance in major works of medieval Welsh and English literature, along with an examination of how twentieth- and twenty-first-century scholars have interpreted those texts.
The book’s ideal audience may be specialists in Arthurian literature, some of whom may even find their own scholarship discussed in its pages. It covers an immense amount of research, and a young scholar just entering the field could easily find it overwhelming. However, for anyone seeking a deep dive into the historical Arthur, his development as a literary figure and the scholarship surrounding him, this is a book worth having on the shelf.
“The volume is surely a fundamental study for the academic community, as it offers an exhaustive overview of the major developments – and occasional missteps – in Arthurian scholarship. Breeze delves into the existing literature while consistently remaining attentive to the direct sources and their role in the construction of the Arthur we know today.” ~ review by Laura Poggesi in English Studies.
The Author
Andrew Breeze is a professor of philology at the University of Navarra, where he specializes in medieval Celtic languages and literature. This is one of several works he has done related to the Arthurian tradition.
You can learn more about this book from the publisher’s website.
You can buy this book on Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
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