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King Arthur: Myth-Making and History
Contributor(s): Higham, N. J. (Author)

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 ISBN: 0415213053     ISBN-13: 9780415213059
Publisher: Routledge
OUR PRICE: $161.50  

Binding Type: Hardcover - See All Available Formats & Editions
Published: April 2002
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Annotation: King Arthur's story encapsulates the medieval romance and the tragedy of the Dark Ages. Yet legends shroud his life, and to this day scholars cannot agree on his dates, his location or even whether he really existed.
"King Arthur" penetrates both the historical literature and the fantastic legends of this hero, king, demigod. Probing the ever-popular cultural icon, historian N.J. Higham traces the changing face of Camelot from its birth in the ninth century to contemporary films such as "Excalibur," "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" and "First" "Knight," How did the idea of King Arthur evolve? What role was Arthur intended to perform in the political and cultural worlds that constructed him?
Higham sheds new light on the genesis of this beloved figure, scrutinizing the first two Arthurian texts: "The History of the Britons" and the "Welsh Annals," His conclusion: historians created Arthur to fit their present political agendas, rather than relying on primary sources. An eye-opening, fresh look at the Arthurian myths, King Arthur follows his kingship's longevity in the popular imagination from the ninth century to the twenty-first.
Additional Information
BISAC Categories:
- Literary Criticism | Medieval
- History | Europe - Medieval
Dewey: 942.014
LCCN: 2001058586
Physical Information: 0.8" H x 6.4" W x 9.44" L (1.50 lbs) 316 pages
Themes:
- Chronological Period - Medieval (500-1453)
Features: Bibliography, Dust Cover, Illustrated, Index, Maps, Table of Contents
 
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc.
Publisher Description:

This seminal new study explores how and why historians and writers from the Middle Ages to the present day have constructed different accounts of this well-loved figure.

N. J Higham offers an in-depth examintaion of 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

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?
* What did the myth of Arthur mean to both authors and their audiences?

King Arthur: Myth-making and History is fascinating reading for anyone interested in the origins and evolution of the Arthurian legend.
 
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