The History of the Kings of Britain (Penguin Classics)

Geoffrey Of Monmouth ; Lewis Thorpe, translator

ISBN 10: 0140441700 / ISBN 13: 9780140441703

Edité par Penguin Books, United Kingdom, 1982

A propos de cet article

'Historia regum Britanniae' (The History of the Kings of Britain), originally called 'De gestis Britonum' (On the Deeds of the Britons), is a fictitious historical account of British history, written around 1136 by Geoffrey of Monmouth. It chronicles the lives of the kings of the Britons over the course of two thousand years, beginning with the Trojans founding the British nation and continuing until the Anglo-Saxons assumed control of much of Britain around the 7th century. It remains, however, a valuable piece of medieval literature, which contains the earliest known version of the story of King Lear and his three daughters, and helped popularise the legend of King Arthur. 373 pages, Extensive Index. Introduction by Lewis Thorpe. This copy is near Fine, bright and clean. Unmarked. Very slight wear to the edges of the covers. Tight, square binding, no spine creases. Too thick to qualify for Lettermail.

N° de réf. du vendeur 060134

Détails bibliographiques

• Titre: The History of the Kings of Britain (Penguin Classics)
• Éditeur: Penguin Books, United Kingdom
• Date de parution: 1982
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN à 10 chiffres: 0140441700
• ISBN à 13 chiffres: 9780140441703
• Reliure: Soft cover
• Édition: 1st Edition
• Impression: 5th or later Printin
• État de l'article: Near Fine
• Poids: 206 grammes
• Catalogues du vendeur:
  • History - General
  • Fiction - Literature
  • Britain - History, Politics & Topography

A propos de ce titre

Synopsis

Completed in 1136, The History of the Kings of Britain traces the story of the realm from its supposed foundation by Brutus to the coming of the Saxons some two thousand years later. Vividly portraying legendary and semi-legendary figures such as Lear, Cymbeline, Merlin the magician and the most famous of all British heroes, King Arthur, it is as much myth as it is history and its veracity was questioned by other medieval writers. But Geoffrey of Monmouth's powerful evocation of illustrious men and deeds captured the imagination of subsequent generations, and his influence can be traced through the works of Malory, Shakespeare, Dryden and Tennyson.

À propos de l?auteur

Very little is known of Geoffrey of Monmouth. He seems to have lived for a time in Oxford and in 1151 he became Bishop Elect of St Asaph, North Wales. He was ordained at Westminster in 1152. According to the Welsh Chronicles he died in 1155.


Lewis Thorpe was Professor of French at Nottingham University from 1958 to 1977. He has published many books and articles on Arthur, both on the French and English traditions. He died in 1977.