Arthur and the Kings of Britain

This book delves into the Historia Regum Britanniae (History of the Kings of Britain) written by Geoffrey of Monmouth in 1136.

It chronicles the British monarchy from the arrival of the Trojan Brutus to the seventh century AD. Miles Russell explains how individual elements of the Historia can be traced back to the first century BC, when Britain was making first contact with Rome.

Russell highlights Geoffrey of Monmouth’s skill in weaving early traditions with folklore and post-Roman sources to create a national epic, including the creation of King Arthur as a composite character.

The book establishes Geoffrey of Monmouth as a preserver of Britain’s earliest foundation myths rather than a mere peddler of historical fiction.