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The thirteenth-century French Vulgate Cycle is the earliest vernacular text to trace the Arthurian world from the beginning of the Holy Grail at Christ's crucifixion to the death of the kingdom and its king. In this study, one of the first to treat the Cycle's five texts as a unified work, Miranda Griffin explores notions of chronology and causality within the Cycle, as the text seeks to explain the origins of Arthurian characters, objects and motifs. Informed by psychoanalytical theory, her reading focuses especially on the construction within the Cycle of three privileged objects of desire - the book, the body and the Grail - which, Griffin argues, function as focal points for the anxieties concerning origins voiced by the Cycle's characters and critics. This original approach opens up new avenues of research which go directly to the heart of many concerns about this important text. ... Read more

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This book analyzes the gendered transformation of magical figures occurring in Arthurian romance in England from the twelfth to the sixteenth centuries.

In the earlier texts, magic is predominantly a masculine pursuit, garnering its user prestige and power, but in the later texts, magic becomes a primarily feminine activity, one that marks its user as wicked and heretical. This project explores both the literary and the social motivations for this transformation, seeking an answer to the question, 'why did the witch become wicked?'

Heidi Breuer traverses both the medieval and early modern periods and considers the way in which the representation of literary witches interacted with the culture at large, ultimately arguing that a series of economic crises in the fourteenth century created a labour shortage met by women. As women moved into the previously male-dominated economy, literary backlash came in the form of the witch, and social backlash followed soon after in the form of Renaissance witch-hunting. The witch figure serves a similar function in modern American culture because late-industrial capitalism challenges gender conventions in similar ways as the economic crises of the medieval period.

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Castleford's Chronicle is a long verse chronicle recounting the traditional history of Britain from its foundation to the year 1327. It is one of the earliest compendia in English of the events and legends of British history. Volume 1 contains a short introduction and half of the text; volume 2 contains the remainder of the text. A third volume, with a full Introduction, Notes, and Glossary, will be forthcoming. ... Read more

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A retracing and retelling of the classic legends of King Arthur, the Round Table, Merlin, Morgan le Fay and the Holy Grail. The tales are accompanied by colour plates by Celtic artist Courtney Davis. ... Read more

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Following her vital cataloguing of the surviving 200+ manuscripts of the Historia Regum Britanniein Volume III, Julia Crick has been able in Volume IV to present the information which the manuscripts contain both about the textual development of Geoffrey's History and about its circulation and audience. Crick begins by exploring the evidence for grouping the manuscripts. External evidence such as associated texts found frequently with the Historiais compared with the internal evidence of textual disruption, the notorious dedications, rubrication and trial passages collated from each manuscript. This information forms the basis for an account of the chronology and geography of the circulation of the work as a whole, which in turn sheds light on the audience of the Historia, their taste in reading, and their status. ... Read more

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Eleven essays, by scholars from America, Australia and the United Kingdom, investigate reinventions of the middle ages in English culture from the end of sixteenth century to the present day. Topics addressed include medievalism in English popular literature; Sir Walter Scott's Sir Tristrem; Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Chaucer; George Stephens and Old Northern philology; Anglo-Saxonism and the Franco-Prussian War; Dante and the Victorian historical sense; the Grail paintings of G.F. Watts; heterogeneity and the Kelmscott Chaucer; revivals of the Chester Mystery plays; and the cinematic art of Terry Gilliam. ... Read more

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Fifteen essays trace North America's enthusiastic engagement with the middle ages from the Revolution to Disney. There are eight studies of the American reception of Arthur: in art (Abbey, Rosenthal), literature (Canadian writers, John Ciardi), scholarship (R. S. Loomis), politics (JFK), and popular culture (Arthurian youth groups, Disneyland, the Excalibur Casino). Other topics include Tom Paine, Elbertus Hubbard, Edgar Rice Burroughs, C. B. DeMille, popular treatments of Villon, the roots of the New Mexican cuento, and the rhetoric of the Gulf War. Contributors: ROGER WOOD, KYMBERLEY N. PINDER, ERICA E. HIRSHLER, ALAN LUPACK, CHARLOTTE OBERG, RAYMOND H. THOMPSON, STAN GALLOWAY, ROBIN BLAETZ, ROBERT D. PECKHAM, JEFF RIDER, KLAUS P. JANKOFSKY, MARY MORSE, PAMELA S. MORGAN, SUSAN ARONSTEIN, NANCY COINER, JONATHAN M. ELUKIN ... Read more

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Medievalism - the whole spectrum of post-medieval response to the middle ages -is now accepted as a vital key to the understanding of Western culture and society from 1500 to the present, pervading every aspect of our time, from the popularto the scholarly and artistic. Studies in Medievalism, now published annually, is the one series to provide a regular forum for discussion of issues related to medievalism. This volume is devoted to medievalism in England, appropriately, since England has always played a central part in the development of medievalism. Contributors from England, Germany, Japan, Canada and the United States deal with topics ranging from 16th-century antiquarianism to 20th-century detective fiction.Contributors: D.R. WOOLF, DENNIS O'BRIEN, PETER HADORN, A. CAMERON AIRHEART, MARTIN WALSH, R.J.SMITH, ROGER SIMPSON, RAYMOND CHAPMAN, CLARE SIMMONS, THOMAS COOKSEY, RENATE HAAS, YURI FUWA, ANTHONY HARRISON, ROBERT BURTON, EDWIN CHRISTIAN, BLAKE LINDSY, MARC BAER. ... Read more

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Here are some of the most important works of medieval Arthurian literature in fresh, new translations that convey the development of King Arthur from Latin chronicles and Celtic mythology into the romantic king of late-medieval literature.
Covering almost a thousand years, The Romance of Arthur: New Expanded Edition covers a broad range of genres, from the early chronicles and Welsh verse through Sir Thomas Malory. A section on lyrics is a new addition. The translations, from Latin, French, German, Spanish, Welsh, Middle English, and Italian, were freshly done for the original anthologies and have now been updated. Complete texts have been presented wherever possible.
Partial list of contents: James J. Wilhelm, "Arthur in the Latin Chronicles"; John K. Bollard, "Arthur in the Early Welsh Tradition"; Richard M. Loomis, "Culhwch and Olwen"; Richard M. Loomis, "Arthur in Geoffrey of Monmouth"; William W. Kibler, "Chr tien de Troyes: Lancelot, or The Knight of the Cart";James J. Wilhelm, "Selected Lyrics"; Marianne E. Kalinke, "The Sage of the Mantle"; Norris J. Lacy, B roul: The Romance of Tristan"; Russell Weingartner, "Marie de France: Lay of the Chievrefueil (Honeysuckle)"; James J. Wilhelm, "Thomas of Britain: Tristan ('The Death Scene')"; Mildred Leake Day, "The Rise of Gawain, Nephew of Arthur"; James J. Wilhelm, ,"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"; James J. Wilhelm, "The Wedding of Sir Gawain Dame Ragnell."Index. Bibliography. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Celtic Origins of King Arthur Cycle ROCKS!
This book is an excellent collection of many hard to find texts.
The translations are very good.
It was required reading in an Arthur class that I'm taking at UCLA, and honestly, it is the best thing about the class.
An excellent addition to the library of anyone interested in the development of the Arthur Cycle.

Good Overview of the Arthurian Legend, with some flaws
This is a useful anthology.If you want to learn some basics about the Arthurian legend, or if you want to teach a class on it, this is the best book to buy.It's fairly comprehensive, with the exception noted below, and the translations are readable, though seldom the best available.It's nice to see some of the unusual stories like "The Saga of the Mantle" and "The Rise of Gawain."

The collection's major flaw is its omission of any Grail text.I have to supplement this book with Nigel Bryant's translation of Robert de Boron (Merlin and the Grail, from Boydell and Brewer).We could certainly do without all the Tristan and Isolde texts (which are only marginally Arthurian anyway).The other flaw, though less grave, is the paucity of the selection from Malory.He really deserves greater prominence than he gets in this anthology, and the selection without proper context isn't very compelling.

THE ROMANCE OF ARTHUR
James Wilhelm's "The Romance of Arthur" is an outstanding one-book resource for any student of Arthurian lore. Wilhelm's introductory notes are concise but helpful, and the selection of material is both varied and quite entertaining. There are not only widely familiar and vital core works such as The Knight of the Cart, The Romance of Tristan, Malory's Le Morte Darthur and the Prose Merlin, but more obscure masterpieces such as The Saga of the Mantle, the Rise of Gawain, and the Alliterative Morte Arthure--the last highlighted by some of the most powerful literary battles since Homer and a particularly moving scene of Arthur on his deathbed. An unqualified recommendation for any Arthurian library.

Great starting book
I originally got this book for a course, and it was my first taste of medeival lit. (beyond Beowulf and Canterbury tales, at least - but who didn't read those in twelth grade?).I found it an intriguing, well chosencompilation which showed the major evolutions of the Arthurian saga fromthe blood-thirsty early chronicals to the flowery romances and chivalrymore commonly associated with the legend.The selected excerpts were ofjust the right length for reading in one sitting, and the introductionshelped greatly in understanding them.Despite the fate of most booksassigned for a class - I truly enjoyed this one.

Good overview of Arthurian legends
This book gives somewhat of a Arthurian anthology as it begins in the early writings of Geoffrey of Monmouth and others, then works its way through some of the more well known stories, most notably Knight of theCart and Gawain and the Green Knight.The translations of the individualstories aren't always the best, but this book is a good compilation forcasual readers of Arthurian lit looking for a sampler. ... Read more

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Presenting selections from medieval Latin, Welsh, English, French and German literature, Richard White traces the Arthurian legend from the earliest mentions of Arthur in Latin chronicles to Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur. Many of these selections are translated here for the time into English.

Bringing together an extensive range of diverse material which reveals the development of the figure of Arthur, this anthology enables the reader to understand how the Arthurian legend developed over a period of more than five hundred years. King Arthur in Legend and History also includes a chronology of key Arthurian texts, an appendix of the Arthurian Courts, a list of sources, suggestions for further reading and bibliography. ... Read more

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Handy Compliation of Source Materials
Whether one's interest is primarily in exploring the genuine history which gave rise to the legend of King Arthur, or in the development of Arthurian literature, this handy volume will prove most useful and convenient.It isa well-considered selection of the most important Arthurian sourcematerials. ... Read more

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The Gawain-Poet is the name given to the northern poet who is generally accepted as the sole author of four 14th-century Gawain poems - "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight", "Patience", "Pearl" and "Cleannes". This text introduces the reader to the poems, setting the works in their relevant historical and cultural context and developing lines of critical argument. ... Read more

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King Arthur is a topic of perennial popular interest, the focus of novels, films, and a Broadway play. Bedecked with 170 glorious color illustrations, this book recounts the legend and all its incarnations, focusing not only on Arthur, but on the people surrounding him, including Guinevere, Galahad, Morgan le Fay, and others. ... Read more

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THE SEARCH FOR KING ARTHUR IS A MUST HAVE FOR ARTHUR FANS!
I am a new fan to Arthurian legends. I read this book and it hooked me. I have since read many books, fiction and non, about the life and legends of Arthur. This book provides detailed descriptions of all the players in the legend.

Magnificent illustrations!
I have long had an interest in Arthurian legend and myth.This book, with its beautiful illustrations and wonderful recount of the myths that surround Arthur, was one of the most enjoyable texts on Arthur I have read.Not only did it include the myth, or legend, as it is told, but detailed how the myth came about and/or how it has changed through the years.Anyone who has ever been interested in Arthurian legend, history, or popular myth should own this book.It will become one of your favorites! ... Read more

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Early Blazon traces the evolution of heraldic terminology from its beginnings - the second quarter of the 12th century to about the year 1300. It analyses the use of coats of arms in literary texts of the period and elucidates such phenomena as allusive, canting and symbolic arms, studying the semantic evolution of the terms and phrases which have survived in today's blazon, and establishing that coats were consistently attributed to certain Arthurian characters from the early 13th century onwards. The glossary defines and gives complete references for every word and phrase utilised in heraldy down to 1300; each term, with its synonyms and its phraseology, is analysed historically and philologically. The introduction covers related topics like heraldic art and pre-classic blazon, the emergence of classic blazon, literature and heraldry, heraldic flattery, plain arms, and history and heraldry. Reissued to coincide with the publication of Professor Brault's edition of The Rolls of Arms of Edward I (1272-1307), this new edition of Early Blazonincludes in a new appendix additions and corrections reflecting more than a quarter of a century of advances in the study of heraldic terminology. ... Read more

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Who was King Arthur? How did the story originate? Through careful research of the many primary documents, a picture of the true Arthur can in fact be set down. He reached power shortly after the Romans evacuated Britain at the end of the fifth century and died at the Battle of Camlann. He became king at 15 under the name of Ambrosius Aurelianus and fought against the Saxons on the mainland as Riothamus, thus explaining the regeneration motif so closely tied to the mythical Arthur. This study reveals that the integrity and ideals central to Arthurian myth were very much a part of the real Arthur. ... Read more

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A detailed exploration of the roots of Arthurian history
"The Historic King Arthur" is perhaps not a book suited for first-time travelers through the murky forests of Arthurian history, searching for the reality behind fifteen centuries of myths and tales.It might be best to first read one or more other works dealing with this great mystery before tackling Frank Reno's highly detailed, deep-delving study of the ancient sources that shed light upon the question.That way, the journey through the writings of Gildas and Nennius and Geoffrey of Monmouth and various scribes and poets will not be quite so daunting.But make no mistake about it, once some fundamental grounding in the basics of the Arthurian quest has been obtained, then "The Historic King Arthur" (and its sequel, "Historic Figures In the Arthurian Age") should be read carefully.Reno minutely examines each source (and most of them are to be found with numerous variations) to lay out his case for his solution to the central questions of the Arthurian mystery:Who was King Arthur?Where did he live?When did he live?Who were his enemies?What was his role in history?And what was really his name?

Reno acts as a guide in this journey in search of historical truth, explaining his methods and logic in evaluating the evidence, but he does not rigidly insist upon the absolute truth of his conclusions.Frequently, he explains that there are other reasonable answers to the questions than the one he favors.Sometimes, such as in his analysis of the locations of many of the battles fought by Arthur (as described in Reno's "Historic Figures In the Arthurian Era"), he concludes that no single "best" answer is really possible.At times, his explanations are complex and subtle to the point where the reader may have difficulty following the path Reno is laying out.That is perhaps a natural consequence of the type of evidence that must be used and of the detail in which it is presented.Usually, however, Reno returns to the same subject of investigation later in the book to again address the questions and to clarify his answers.Thus, attention to detail on the reader's part is required and patience must be exercised as the author slowly builds his case.

And what are Reno's answers to what above I termed the central questions?He believes that Arthur was of a Roman-British background, operating as a high king primarily in Wales and the adjacent midlands, although also in southern England and northern Gaul, from the middle of the Fifth Century AD through the early portion of the Sixth.Reno contends that many of Arthur's campaigns were waged not against Saxon hordes fresh from Germany, but against Saxons who had been settled in Britain for one or more generations, these "English" Saxons being in league with leaders and forces of native British.And Reno believes that "Arthur" was a man known otherwise to history as Ambrosius Aurelianus and as Riothamus and finally as Arthurex, not a name at all but an epithet connoting his status as a great leader.

I will not claim that I am yet wholly convinced of this "triad" equation of Ambrosius Aurelianus, Riothamus, and Arthur but, as the author himself points out, rejection of this total identity does not negate the validity of many parts of Reno's overall work.I found to be especial important Reno's conclusions regarding Cerdic, a "Saxon" king with a wholly Celtic name, and Cerdic's people, the West Saxons.If Reno is correct, our understanding of the Arthurian era must be substantially altered, with a consequence that the course of events becomes much more clear.I expect Reno's conclusions to be challenged - this is inevitable in a field where evidence is scant and subject to multiple interpretations - but at the very least he has provided us with a provocative, comprehensive portrait of man and era.

To my knowledge there is no other Arthurian study available to the general public that explores the ancient sources in such depth to provide answers to the old questions.If I might be critical of some peripheral features, I do wish that the index was somewhat more comprehensive and illuminating (given the complexity of the issues at hand, I found myself turning to the index again and again to go back to earlier points) and the maps, although numerous, sometimes lack the visual clarity that could have been achieved.Nonetheless, "The Historic King Arthur" and "Historic Figures In the Arthurian Era" are books that should be of great interest to anyone seriously interested in attempting to glimpse the real King Arthur.

A wonderful true life book of a man thought to be a mith.
This book took a time and a man, explained the truth of the time and captured my heart.Knowing there was King and how Mr. Reno went about proving his existance was interesting, intreeging, heart warming and fun. I can not wait for the next book! ... Read more

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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.

Customer Reviews (1)

Much needed and extremely important.
If you're still seeking the Holy Grail of an "historical Arthur", don't bother with this book.You won't find any theories about a sub-Roman war band leader here.This is a scholarly work about the Arthurian legend that does not seek to "prove" that Arthur, the man, actually existed.

This book is about whence came the IDEA of Arthur.The author does review the extremely limited original sources which mention Arthur and then works to explain what the purpose was behind the idea of Arthur.Who needed him as a symbol? How did they use Arthur for their own dynastic advancement?

The author focuses on the pre-Galfridian (pre-Geoffrey of Monmouth) Latin texts which mention Arthur. He provides historic contextual background to explain where these works were written, why they were written, and who their intended original audience was.

Once the original purpose for the idea of Arthur is established, the book then reviews the rise and fall and rise again of the Arthurian legend from the French troubadours to the Tudor kings on through the Victorians and up to the present day cults of Camelot.

An excellent and fast read for the general public about a scholarly topic that has been much neglected. ... Read more

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Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britannie was one of the most influential literary works of the 12th century. It offered a new and allegedly authoritative history of the British from their first colonisation of the island under Brutus until the late 7th century AD; hence its immediate and lasting popularity. The characters which the author introduced to a wider audience have become central figures in English literature, including the most spectacular of Geoffrey's reshapings, the figure of King Arthur. It is Geoffrey's account of Arthur which lies behind almost all subsequent Arthurian Romance. It is hardly surprising that no comprehensive edition of the Historia Regum Britannie as yet exists, because over two hundred manuscripts survive, many of which have never been thoroughly examined. In practical terms, this new edition, based on Bern, Burgerbibliothek, MSD. 568, will make this important text readily available again;all emendations to correct scribal errors are clearly indicated. ... Read more

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King Arthur and the Grail Quest is a great book!!
As a student of Arthurian history (fifth and sixth century Britain), I am constantly looking for books about the historical Arthur.Of all the hundreds of authors who write about the subject, John Matthews is my favorite.And in "King Arthur and the Grail Quest," I haven't been let down.The first few chapters are about the historical Arthur, my field of expertise, while later chapters go into the history of the Grail legends, as well as the other bizarre happenings which sorround them, including the Templars, Cathars, Prester John, and more.I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the history of King Arthur or the Holy Grail. ... Read more

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The name of Merlin lives on as powerfully as that of King Arthur himself in tales and place names that span Wales, Cornwall, Cumbria, and Caledonia. Michael Dames shows us here the many aspects of this elusive and mercurial enchanter and sage, at ease in the royal court and in the wilderness, on land and in water.

With illustrations of the art and artifacts pertaining to the Merlin legend as well as the author's own evocative photographs of mythic sites, the book guides us through the many versions of the story of Merlin and his sister/lover—from the mysterious boy on Dinas Emrys who aroused the embattled red and white dragons in their hidden pool, to the metaphor of his retreat to the holy land of Bardsey off the coast of Wales.

The myths about this most famous of magicians carry Egyptian and Roman traces, and emerge in several languages across the centuries, in oral tales, folk rites, early literatures, and visual symbols. Especially loved by the people of rural Wales, as their folklore shows, Merlin is often subversive, a maverick, and a trespasser.

All those entranced by Celtic lore and locations will want to own this book and use it to visit the places that still seem to echo with Merlin's name. 160 illustrations and maps, 22 in color. ... Read more