Revealing King Arthur: Swords, Stones and Digging for Camelot

by Christopher Gidlow

An investigation into what archaeology tells us about King Arthur’s Dark-Age Britain What lies behind the legends of King Arthur? Fragments of history, or just wishful thinking? While historians study the ancient manuscripts, modern archaeologists join in the hunt for clues. From Arthur’s "birthplace" at Tintagel to the fabled "Isle of Avalon," this history sifts through the evidence. Journeying across Arthur’s Britain, the author searches for Camelot and the sites of his battles. Do the remains confirm or contradict the traditional accounts? Far from providing objective proof, he shows how archaeologists’ interpretation of their discoveries reflects the academic fashions of their times. Sites which in the 1960s were used to prove King Arthur’s existence are now seen as irrelevant to the discussion of a completely mythical character. By comparing the written sources with the archaeology he shows that the traditional image of Arthur leading the Britons against the Saxons around the year 500 AD is actually a very plausible explanation of the evidence.

Genres: History

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2010

Reviews

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trying to draw away from the current fashion of disbelieving anything relating to the "Arthur" of legend, Gidlow draws a good middle ground between skepticism and engagement with archeological and historical sources.

[Pete daPixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual I've read the authors follow up book before reading his first work 'The Reign of Arthur.' However, I have read a number of books on the subject, more than is in my booklist. A deal of time and water has flowed.
'Revealing King Arthur' by Christopher Gidlow, published 2010 is a good update for me to catch up to the latest literary and archaeological thinking on the subject.
The Dark Ages in Britain are still dark to us today. The characters of this period are shadowlike or just legendary. Even so I didn't require any Damascene conversion by Mr Gidlow to accept the mythical figure of King Arthur to be a historical fact. I find that I have visited many of old Art's haunts on my travels. Camboglanna (the twisted glen) is a place on Hadrians Wall not to be visited after nightfall, even if you don't believe in ghosts!
The date in my head for the Battle of Badon also remains intact after reading this book, yet I was not aware that poor old Nennius was no longer considered the author of 'Historia Brittonum'.
No swords in stones, round tables, Merlins or lady's of lakes in this book, even 'Revealing King Arthur' himself is going a bit far. Revealing the legend, perhaps. LEGEND:-A person having special place in public esteem because of striking qualities or deeds, real or fictitious; the body of fact and fiction gathered round such a person.

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the author strikes a good middle ground, it lessens my acceptance when he makes claim to being a "pro-Aurthurian". It also twists my jerkin when he keeps referencing his other work.