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King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table: Stories of Camelot and the Quest for the Holy Grail
Here lies entombed the renowned King Arthur in the island of Avalon. —Inscription found at Glastonbury in the late 12th century.
King Arthur most probably never existed, and if he did, we know precious little about him. And yet he is one of the most famous Britons, while Excalibur and Camelot are perhaps the world’s best-known sword and castle, and Hollywood doesn’t tire of returning to the world of Arthurian romance (another major movie is to be released in 2016).
So, what s the truth behind King Arthur? How did the legends take hold? And why have they endured for so long? Long before the Marvel Universe there was the universe of Arthurian romance, and King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table examines the fact and the fiction behind Arthur, Lancelot, Merlin, Guinevere, Galahad, among others, as well as the quest for the Holy Grail.
Beginning in the 12th century, the book explores what factual basis there is for the tales and how the characters, stories and motifs developed through histories, epic poems and prose tellings. The book also charts the revived interest in Arthurian romance in the 19th century and considers how the tales still hold the popular imagination today.
Illustrated with more than 180 color and black-and-white artworks and photographs and maps, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table is an expertly written account of where literature, mythology and history meet.
King Arthur most probably never existed, and if he did, we know precious little about him. And yet he is one of the most famous Britons, while Excalibur and Camelot are perhaps the world’s best-known sword and castle, and Hollywood doesn’t tire of returning to the world of Arthurian romance (another major movie is to be released in 2016).
So, what s the truth behind King Arthur? How did the legends take hold? And why have they endured for so long? Long before the Marvel Universe there was the universe of Arthurian romance, and King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table examines the fact and the fiction behind Arthur, Lancelot, Merlin, Guinevere, Galahad, among others, as well as the quest for the Holy Grail.
Beginning in the 12th century, the book explores what factual basis there is for the tales and how the characters, stories and motifs developed through histories, epic poems and prose tellings. The book also charts the revived interest in Arthurian romance in the 19th century and considers how the tales still hold the popular imagination today.
Illustrated with more than 180 color and black-and-white artworks and photographs and maps, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table is an expertly written account of where literature, mythology and history meet.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published May 1, 2016
10 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
About the author
Martin J. Dougherty
180 books54 followersHailing from northeast England, Martin J Dougherty is a professional writer specialising in military history. He has been at times a games designer, an engineer, a self-protection instructor, a teacher and a defence analyst. Martin has published a range of books covering topics as diverse as self-protection, medieval warfare and space flight, and has addressed international conferences on anti-shipping missiles and homeland security issues.
Martin's interests include martial arts and fencing. He has coached Fencing, Ju-Jitsu, Self-Defence and Kickboxing for many years at the University of Sunderland, and has competed to national level as a fencer. As a martial artist he holds black belts in Combat Ju-Jitsu, Nihon Tai-Jitsu and Self-Defence. Martin is a Senior Assessor with the Self-Defence Federation and an IL1 instructor/assessor with the Britsh Federation for Historical Swordplay, specialising in the Military Sabre and the Smallsword.
Martin's interests include martial arts and fencing. He has coached Fencing, Ju-Jitsu, Self-Defence and Kickboxing for many years at the University of Sunderland, and has competed to national level as a fencer. As a martial artist he holds black belts in Combat Ju-Jitsu, Nihon Tai-Jitsu and Self-Defence. Martin is a Senior Assessor with the Self-Defence Federation and an IL1 instructor/assessor with the Britsh Federation for Historical Swordplay, specialising in the Military Sabre and the Smallsword.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 20, 2019
Ternyata sejarah Raja Arthur ini dilatarbelakangi invasi bangsa Saxon ke Brittania di abad 4-6 M. Dan yg membuat saya tercengang-cengang adalah latar belakang Arthur sendiri. Rumit dan penuh skandal, yg gilanya tetap berlanjut hingga akhir hidup Arthur.
Arthur boleh dibilang bastard child, dibuahi dari hasil sihir (amit-amit jabang bayi dah!!!), sedari bayi sudah diserahkan kpd org lain tetapi kemudian kembali dan mengambil pedang yg ditancapkan di batu, yg secara legitimasi menjadikan dirinya raja Brittania yg sah.
Setelah Arthur berjaya dan menikahi Guinevere, skandal tidak berhenti dari sekeliling Arthur dan para ksatrianya. Seringnya kesalahpahaman antar para ksatrianya (yg bagi saya krn miskomunikasi sih), skandal krn wanita-wanita bangsawan membuat tidak pernah sepi ajakan utk duel/tarung di turnamen. Tapi yg paling gila adalah perselingkuhan Lancelot dan Guinevere, terlepas mereka saling mencintai, saya gak suka ksatria sehebat apapun yg ternyata seorang pebinor (perebut bini orang).
Ending dari kehidupan Arthur gak kalah tragisnya dgn nasib Julius Caesar. Arthur ibaratnya sudah jatuh tertimpa tangga pula. Sudah ditinggal istri, eh dikhianati oleh Mordred, keponakan sekaligus anak haramnya, yg membuat Arthur terluka sangat parah.
Sayang sekali terjemahan buku ini bisa dibilang BURUK... terjemahannya seperti baru belajar menerjemahkan buku, banyak pengulangan kata dan pemakaian kata yg kurang/tidak tepat. Bagusnya gambar-gambar grafis lukisan-lukisan di buku ini cakep-cakep.
Arthur boleh dibilang bastard child, dibuahi dari hasil sihir (amit-amit jabang bayi dah!!!), sedari bayi sudah diserahkan kpd org lain tetapi kemudian kembali dan mengambil pedang yg ditancapkan di batu, yg secara legitimasi menjadikan dirinya raja Brittania yg sah.
Setelah Arthur berjaya dan menikahi Guinevere, skandal tidak berhenti dari sekeliling Arthur dan para ksatrianya. Seringnya kesalahpahaman antar para ksatrianya (yg bagi saya krn miskomunikasi sih), skandal krn wanita-wanita bangsawan membuat tidak pernah sepi ajakan utk duel/tarung di turnamen. Tapi yg paling gila adalah perselingkuhan Lancelot dan Guinevere, terlepas mereka saling mencintai, saya gak suka ksatria sehebat apapun yg ternyata seorang pebinor (perebut bini orang).
Ending dari kehidupan Arthur gak kalah tragisnya dgn nasib Julius Caesar. Arthur ibaratnya sudah jatuh tertimpa tangga pula. Sudah ditinggal istri, eh dikhianati oleh Mordred, keponakan sekaligus anak haramnya, yg membuat Arthur terluka sangat parah.
Sayang sekali terjemahan buku ini bisa dibilang BURUK... terjemahannya seperti baru belajar menerjemahkan buku, banyak pengulangan kata dan pemakaian kata yg kurang/tidak tepat. Bagusnya gambar-gambar grafis lukisan-lukisan di buku ini cakep-cakep.
May 27, 2017
The Arthurian mythos is a familiar one to just about everyone in some form or another. But unless you’re a scholar of the subject, you might not know where all the pieces came from and how they got put together. This “coffee table” book gives an overview of basic information about King Arthur and his knights.
This generously illustrated tome begins with a look at what we know of early British history, and historical figures that might have inspired the tales of Arthur, even if no actual King Arthur ever existed.
Then it moves on to the major sources of the Arthurian stories. The first written account we still have is that of Geoffrey of Monmouth, whose Arthur is just one in a line of probably fictional rulers. The book also covers the romances of Chrétien de Troyes (who was big on graphic violence and courtly love), the Grail Quest (heavy on the preachiness and religious allegory), and of course Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur, which pulled material together from multiple sources and added some of his own touches.
A final chapter touches on modern retellings of the Arthur cycle, from Mark Twain’s satirical proto-science fiction work A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, through the musical Camelot to the recent television series Merlin. The author also talks a bit about what might be called tertiary Arthuriana, where a character could say, “this bell was enchanted by Merlin” with no other references to King Arthur, yet the audience will immediately know what’s being talked about.
This book is for the layman, and should be suitable for tweens on up. (Parents of younger readers might want to discuss the theme of marital infidelity that comes up in the relationship of Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere, as well as other places in the Arthurian cycle, not least Arthur’s own birth.) There is an index, but no bibliography, so serious scholars will want something more advanced to work with.
The author also talks a bit about the enduring appeal of King Arthur and his stories. Heroic knights and chivalry, a struggle of good against evil, a kingdom where right is more important than might, even if it is doomed to fall and be followed by a darker age. “A moment so bright it will be seen on the far side of that darkness.”
This book would make a good gift for the casual fan of things King Arthur, especially bright teenagers. Did they like the recent movie?
This generously illustrated tome begins with a look at what we know of early British history, and historical figures that might have inspired the tales of Arthur, even if no actual King Arthur ever existed.
Then it moves on to the major sources of the Arthurian stories. The first written account we still have is that of Geoffrey of Monmouth, whose Arthur is just one in a line of probably fictional rulers. The book also covers the romances of Chrétien de Troyes (who was big on graphic violence and courtly love), the Grail Quest (heavy on the preachiness and religious allegory), and of course Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur, which pulled material together from multiple sources and added some of his own touches.
A final chapter touches on modern retellings of the Arthur cycle, from Mark Twain’s satirical proto-science fiction work A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, through the musical Camelot to the recent television series Merlin. The author also talks a bit about what might be called tertiary Arthuriana, where a character could say, “this bell was enchanted by Merlin” with no other references to King Arthur, yet the audience will immediately know what’s being talked about.
This book is for the layman, and should be suitable for tweens on up. (Parents of younger readers might want to discuss the theme of marital infidelity that comes up in the relationship of Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere, as well as other places in the Arthurian cycle, not least Arthur’s own birth.) There is an index, but no bibliography, so serious scholars will want something more advanced to work with.
The author also talks a bit about the enduring appeal of King Arthur and his stories. Heroic knights and chivalry, a struggle of good against evil, a kingdom where right is more important than might, even if it is doomed to fall and be followed by a darker age. “A moment so bright it will be seen on the far side of that darkness.”
This book would make a good gift for the casual fan of things King Arthur, especially bright teenagers. Did they like the recent movie?
July 31, 2019
Awesome
August 7, 2022
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
King Arthur the Knights of the Round Table is an interesting and well curated monograph on the origins and comparisons through history of the Arthurian mythos and legends by Martin J. Dougherty. Due out 16th Aug 2022 from Amber Books, it's 224 pages and will be available in paperback format.
This is a comparative, roughly chronological, look at a number of legends and works of literature in the Arthurian canon, from ancient through to the modern day. The book is well illustrated throughout with artworks from illuminated manuscripts and classical works of art. The book is a solid resource for the information, of course, but is also greatly enhanced by the inclusion of the illustrations.
Four stars. It would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition as well as for inspiration for calligraphers and students of art.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
King Arthur the Knights of the Round Table is an interesting and well curated monograph on the origins and comparisons through history of the Arthurian mythos and legends by Martin J. Dougherty. Due out 16th Aug 2022 from Amber Books, it's 224 pages and will be available in paperback format.
This is a comparative, roughly chronological, look at a number of legends and works of literature in the Arthurian canon, from ancient through to the modern day. The book is well illustrated throughout with artworks from illuminated manuscripts and classical works of art. The book is a solid resource for the information, of course, but is also greatly enhanced by the inclusion of the illustrations.
Four stars. It would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition as well as for inspiration for calligraphers and students of art.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
July 16, 2022
King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, by Martin Dougherty, is an attractive and informative look at the stories that have been erected around the character of Arthur.
This is written for the casual reader but still goes into enough detail to keep it from being simply an overview. We go from the history that likely contributed to the stories, to the early legends, on to the more widely known romances (which includes Camelot and the Grail search), and into more contemporary interpretations of the myths.
The images that accompany the text show the extent that the stories have permeated various art forms. While a nice full color book with large images would be great, they are still nice enough to make wonderful companions to the text.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
This is written for the casual reader but still goes into enough detail to keep it from being simply an overview. We go from the history that likely contributed to the stories, to the early legends, on to the more widely known romances (which includes Camelot and the Grail search), and into more contemporary interpretations of the myths.
The images that accompany the text show the extent that the stories have permeated various art forms. While a nice full color book with large images would be great, they are still nice enough to make wonderful companions to the text.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
July 15, 2022
The Arthurian legend has fascinated me since I was a kid, and I’ve read many of the modern versions of the story. So,when I saw King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table was available, I was drawn to a book that examines the history behind the legend.
The book is a well written evaluation of the King Arthur story, and reviews the most likely probability that Arthur never existed, and the reasons why. The author also extensively (sometimes in too much detail) summarizes many of the Arthurian epics written in the Middle Ages, and briefly touches upon the modern books, films and TV series that tell Arthur’s story..
Recommended for those who are interested in the story behind King Arthur legend.
My thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing an ARC of the book.
The book is a well written evaluation of the King Arthur story, and reviews the most likely probability that Arthur never existed, and the reasons why. The author also extensively (sometimes in too much detail) summarizes many of the Arthurian epics written in the Middle Ages, and briefly touches upon the modern books, films and TV series that tell Arthur’s story..
Recommended for those who are interested in the story behind King Arthur legend.
My thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing an ARC of the book.
November 29, 2016
This summary of Arthuriana through the contexts of history, literature, and popular culture is remarkable both for its breadth and its succinctness. Provides an excellent overview of the historical periods and culture groups from which Arthurian mythology is drawn. Provides a solid discussion of the major Arthurian texts: Monmouth, the Welsh Chronicles, Chrétien de Troyes, Malory, etc. (admittedly, Malory feels a bit short-changed compared to the others). My only other possibly criticism would be that the language is often simplistic, but that doesn't deter from the utility of the work and probably increases its accessibility to YA readers and non-native English speakers.
July 23, 2016
Rollicking ride thru history, looking at possible historical Arthurs, Hollywood Arthurs, and everything in between. Well illustrated giving the feel of a coffee table book.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews