Britain AD

Description

Leading archaeologist Francis Pryor retells the story of King Arthur, legendary king of the Britons, tracing it back to its Bronze Age origins.The legend of King Arthur and Camelot is one of the most enduring in Britain's history, spanning centuries and surviving invasions by Angles, Vikings and Normans. In his latest book Francis Pryor – one of Britain's most celebrated archaeologists and author of the acclaimed 'Britain B.C.' and 'Seahenge' – traces the story of Arthur back to its ancient origins. Putting forth the compelling idea that most of the key elements of the Arthurian legends are deeply rooted in Bronze and Iron Ages (the sword Excalibur, the Lady of the Lake, the Sword in the Stone and so on), Pryor argues that the legends' survival mirrors a flourishing, indigenous culture that endured through the Roman occupation of Britain, and the subsequent invasions of the so-called Dark Ages.As in 'Britain B.C.', Pryor roots his story in the very landscape, from Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, to South Cadbury Castle in Somerset and Tintagel in Cornwall. He traces the story back to the 5th-century King Arthur and beyond, all the time testing his ideas with archaeological evidence, and showing how the story was manipulated through the ages for various historical and literary purposes, by Geoffrey of Monmouth and Malory, among others.Delving into history, literary sources – ancient, medieval and romantic – and archaeological research, Francis Pryor creates an original, lively and illuminating account of this most British of legends.

Description

"In Britain A.D. the prehistorian and field archaeologist Francis Pryor explores to effect some of the great origin myths of 'Dark Age' Britain: who were the Celts, the Anglo-Saxons and the Ancient Britons? How real are their legendary leaders such as King Arthur or Hengist and Horsa? How reliable are authors such as Gildas and the Venerable Bede?" "It was the racial theories of Victorian Englishmen that gave rise to the myth of Anglo-Saxon conquest in order to prove their own superiority to their so-called 'Celtic' neighbours. Arthur, legendary King of the Britons, was in turn used to prop up the Anglo-Saxon invasion theory. The origins of his story lie in Bronze Age Britain, and Francis Pryor shows that continuity of religious and ceremonial ritual runs from the Bronze Age through to the Middle Ages."--BOOK JACKET.

Subjects

Other Editions

• Britain AD: A Quest for Arthur, England and the Anglo-SaxonsHarperCollins UK2006-10-01
• Britain ADPaperbackHarperCollins UK2006-10-01
• Britain ADHardcoverHarperCollins UK2006-10-01
• Britain ADElectronic resourceHarperCollins2009-01-01