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King Arthur: Man or Myth?
The book is an investigation of the evidence for King Arthur based on the earliest written sources rather than later myths and legends.
The evidence is laid out in a chronological order starting from Roman Britain and shows how the legend evolved and at what point concepts such as Camelot, excalibur and Merlin were added.
It covers the historical records from the end of Roman Britain using contemporary sources such as they are, from 400-800, including Gallic Chronicles, Gildas and Bede.
It details the first written reference to Arthur in the Historia Brittonum c800 and the later Annales Cambriae in the tenth century showing the evolution of the legend in in later Welsh and French stories.
The work differs from other books on the subject in not starting from or aiming at a specific person. It compares the possibility of Arthur being purely fictional with an historical figure alongside a list of possible suspects.
The evidence is presented and the reader is invited to make up their own mind before a discussion of the Author's own assessment.
The evidence is laid out in a chronological order starting from Roman Britain and shows how the legend evolved and at what point concepts such as Camelot, excalibur and Merlin were added.
It covers the historical records from the end of Roman Britain using contemporary sources such as they are, from 400-800, including Gallic Chronicles, Gildas and Bede.
It details the first written reference to Arthur in the Historia Brittonum c800 and the later Annales Cambriae in the tenth century showing the evolution of the legend in in later Welsh and French stories.
The work differs from other books on the subject in not starting from or aiming at a specific person. It compares the possibility of Arthur being purely fictional with an historical figure alongside a list of possible suspects.
The evidence is presented and the reader is invited to make up their own mind before a discussion of the Author's own assessment.
- GenresHistory
216 pages, Hardcover
Published February 28, 2020
6 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Tony Sullivan
11 books9 followersTony retired after 31 years in the London Fire Brigade and lives with his wife and three children in Kent. He now writes predominantly historical non-fiction books, but other genres are planned.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 22, 2020
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
King Arthur: Man or Myth? by Tony Sullivan is an intriguing exploration of Arthurian legend and British history. I particularly like that this book gives consideration to all options, the skeptical and the mythical, when trying to piece together real life history. Plus, it's laid out in chronological order which made it a bit easier to keep up. Unfortunately, things get a bit dull trying to keep up with all the dates, names, and details. The copy I read was also tricky to follow since the maps and tables were incomplete or in pieces, and in some cases it was difficult to tell the difference between footnotes and the main text. Overall, if you're interested in the historical aspects of Arthurian legend, you'll probably want to give this book a try.
King Arthur: Man or Myth? by Tony Sullivan is an intriguing exploration of Arthurian legend and British history. I particularly like that this book gives consideration to all options, the skeptical and the mythical, when trying to piece together real life history. Plus, it's laid out in chronological order which made it a bit easier to keep up. Unfortunately, things get a bit dull trying to keep up with all the dates, names, and details. The copy I read was also tricky to follow since the maps and tables were incomplete or in pieces, and in some cases it was difficult to tell the difference between footnotes and the main text. Overall, if you're interested in the historical aspects of Arthurian legend, you'll probably want to give this book a try.
March 22, 2020
I've always been fascinated by King Arthur (thanks, Dad!), so when the opportunity came to read and review this book, I couldn't resist. I wasn't disappointed. I think the author was very brave to tackle this subject in the way that he did. There is a huge jumble surrounding the history/myth/legend of "King" Arthur - manuscripts, "histories" that don't match, and even a stone engraving... The only reason I gave this book 4 stars, rather than 5, is because it has given me far too much to think about!
A very good read for those interested in the early history of "Britain" or those who hear the words "King Arthur" and get a gleam in their eye.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advance copy to review. This review is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
A very good read for those interested in the early history of "Britain" or those who hear the words "King Arthur" and get a gleam in their eye.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advance copy to review. This review is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
January 31, 2021
Very heavy reading. Not something to wind down after a long day, that’s for sure. The passion the author put into this is clear, it’s very detailed.
Although you’d expect this to start and look in the medieval period it actually focus’ more on from just after the Romans left Britain around the 5th Century. It’s very specific on where the information used is from and let’s you form your own opinions as well as the authors.
Worth a read if your into British history and like the Arthurian myth but I wouldn’t recommend for someone just starting into this area of interest.
Although you’d expect this to start and look in the medieval period it actually focus’ more on from just after the Romans left Britain around the 5th Century. It’s very specific on where the information used is from and let’s you form your own opinions as well as the authors.
Worth a read if your into British history and like the Arthurian myth but I wouldn’t recommend for someone just starting into this area of interest.
October 15, 2020
2.5 rounded up to 3
June 4, 2020
King Arthur is a legend among legends. With the myth persisting, many have insisted that he was, indeed, a real person.
I think it can be argued, and very well, from the tenor and information provided in this book, that Arthur was indeed a real person - one who was imagined and formed from the characteristics of many. As the legend has grown over the years, so have the qualities and the feats of the supposed king.
I really enjoyed this book! The facts, the layout, the information was easy to follow and very enjoyable!
Which are you - real person or complete myth? This book might just help you determine where you stand.
I think it can be argued, and very well, from the tenor and information provided in this book, that Arthur was indeed a real person - one who was imagined and formed from the characteristics of many. As the legend has grown over the years, so have the qualities and the feats of the supposed king.
I really enjoyed this book! The facts, the layout, the information was easy to follow and very enjoyable!
Which are you - real person or complete myth? This book might just help you determine where you stand.
May 4, 2021
A 95% of this book is spent saying this is the source and here is why it's wrong. The last chapter is worth reading and provides good insights.
August 1, 2020
Myths and legends have come to define the legacy of kingdoms. Stories of men like Robin Hood who did not have magical aspects have captured the imagination of Englishmen for generations. However, there is one legend whose legacy is synonymous with the English people; the legend of King Arthur. We all know the story of the mythical king who ruled over Camelot with his beloved wife Gwenivere, his magical sword Excalibur, and his trusty Knights of the Round Table. Yet a question arises when we study this legend; was there ever a historical King Arthur? This is the central issue that Tony Sullivan has chosen to investigate thoroughly in his book, “King Arthur: Man or Myth?”.
I would like to thank Pen and Sword Books for sending me a copy of this book. I was curious about this book after reading a previous book about Robin Hood. I will say that I did not know much about the Arthurian legend except the popular aspects that tend to appear in novels and films. Of course being a Tudor nerd I knew that Henry VII had a fascination with the story, since he named his eldest son Arthur, so I wanted to explore what made this tale so intriguing for many centuries.
To understand the origins of the myth, we must go back in the past, but not to the medieval period that many would expect after reading the legend. Sullivan’s main focus is on a period much farther back in time, Roman Britain. This is not an area of history that I normally study so I was unfamiliar with the people and the battles that Sullivan mentioned in connection to the “real” Arthur. It did feel a bit dense to me and it took me a while to get through this portion of the book, even though I did find it rather interesting to read about Roman Britain.
What impressed me about this book is Sullivan’s passion for this subject and his willingness to go the extra mile to show both sides of the argument, that there was a historical Arthur and a mythical Arthur. He dives deep into the sources, from the earliest annals and chronicles to the 11th and 13th centuries legends and romances. It was extremely fascinating to see how he treated this book like a criminal investigation, using different fields of study to figure out the origins of the legend, how it evolved, and whether or not there was a king named Arthur.
Overall, I found this book intriguing and rather challenging. If you are a novice when it comes to the academic world of the Arthurian legend, it might be a difficult read. I would suggest that if you are interested in reading this book, take your time and take plenty of notes. This may not be the best introductory book for those who want to know about the Arthurian legend, but I think that it will give you a better understanding of Roman Britain and the academic side of studying such a legendary figure. If this piques your interest, you should check out, “King Arthur: Man or Myth?” by Tony Sullivan.
I would like to thank Pen and Sword Books for sending me a copy of this book. I was curious about this book after reading a previous book about Robin Hood. I will say that I did not know much about the Arthurian legend except the popular aspects that tend to appear in novels and films. Of course being a Tudor nerd I knew that Henry VII had a fascination with the story, since he named his eldest son Arthur, so I wanted to explore what made this tale so intriguing for many centuries.
To understand the origins of the myth, we must go back in the past, but not to the medieval period that many would expect after reading the legend. Sullivan’s main focus is on a period much farther back in time, Roman Britain. This is not an area of history that I normally study so I was unfamiliar with the people and the battles that Sullivan mentioned in connection to the “real” Arthur. It did feel a bit dense to me and it took me a while to get through this portion of the book, even though I did find it rather interesting to read about Roman Britain.
What impressed me about this book is Sullivan’s passion for this subject and his willingness to go the extra mile to show both sides of the argument, that there was a historical Arthur and a mythical Arthur. He dives deep into the sources, from the earliest annals and chronicles to the 11th and 13th centuries legends and romances. It was extremely fascinating to see how he treated this book like a criminal investigation, using different fields of study to figure out the origins of the legend, how it evolved, and whether or not there was a king named Arthur.
Overall, I found this book intriguing and rather challenging. If you are a novice when it comes to the academic world of the Arthurian legend, it might be a difficult read. I would suggest that if you are interested in reading this book, take your time and take plenty of notes. This may not be the best introductory book for those who want to know about the Arthurian legend, but I think that it will give you a better understanding of Roman Britain and the academic side of studying such a legendary figure. If this piques your interest, you should check out, “King Arthur: Man or Myth?” by Tony Sullivan.
May 8, 2020
Man, this was SO dense - fascinating, but just jammed full of names, dates, places, winding timelines, various battle sites and invasion routes... The accompanying maps and charts were helpful in sorting it all out. One thing that would've been a HUGE help is some type of introduction outlining the basic people and places mentioned in the various versions of the Arthurian story, especially the ones that show up again and again in the sources (Vortigern, Uther Pendragon, the two Saxon kings, etc.), just to set the stage and get the reader in the mindset to enter this deep, detailed dive.
April 1, 2020
I have always been a sucker for Arthurian stories and I was thoroughly impressed with this book. Mr. Sullivan has discussed in great detail the many Arthurian stories and even provided a form of timeframe to keep track as you read. I was provided an ARC bi NetGalley so the quality of some of the images was questionable, but when the hardcover version is released I’m sure it will be amazing!!
April 5, 2020
I'm sucker of everything related to King Arthur and I found this book informative and interesting.
It's full of facts and interesting ideas, well written and engrossing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
It's full of facts and interesting ideas, well written and engrossing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
May 2, 2020
Although complex and heavy, it was a great, thought-provoking reading. The author left no stone unturned and no possibility unexplained. There were severa details and facts that seemed superfluous to me, but would be interesting for readers more familiar with history matters.
February 12, 2023
Superb analysis of all the evidence for and against.
Leaves you to make up your own mind as to whether he really existed
Leaves you to make up your own mind as to whether he really existed
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews