The Complete King Arthur

This book was interesting look into the history and mythological surrounding the tales of King Arthur.

The Complete King Arthur: Many Faces, One Hero, is a comprehensive look at the many different persona’s of King Arthur. I have read many books from notable scholars on the subject of Arthur, so I was looking forward to seeing what John Matthews and Caitlín Matthews had to say for themselves. I was hoping for something fresh and easy to read, I got that.

The authors do not claim to have found Arthur, this isn’t that type of book, although I got the impression the authors were leaning towards the Roman Centurion, Artorius Castus, as a probable candidate!

This book covers a vast period, from Roman occupation of Britain, to now, which is a long period of history to cover, but I have to commend John Matthews and Caitlín Matthews, for they did it remarkably well.
This book looks at how Arthur has changed through the ages and how he has been used, to some extent, for political purposes. It also shows us how Arthur ‘the man’ was turned into Arthur ‘the legend’ and how the ancient texts were possibly misinterpreted. So as with anything to do with Arthur you expect to look at the works of Gildas, Nennius, Bede, etc... which this book does, and John Matthews and Caitlín Matthews have come up with some really interesting thesis as they interpret what they think this writing is, and isn’t, telling us. The authors arguments are very compelling, and I have to admit I had this book in one hand, and the rest of my vast Arthurian collection spread out before me while I cross-referenced. And for the most part, I found myself agreeing with what John Matthews and Caitlín Matthews have so elegantly put forward as an argument. Their interpretation makes sense.

This book spends a long time looking at Nennius’s 12 famous battles and how these "battles" have been interpreted / miss-interpreted over time, and, more importantly, what they say about the political landscape that they are set in. I thought the authors were right to dedicate this amount of time to these battles and for those new to Arthurian Legend this would be enlightening.

The book takes us on a journey and show us how Arthur changed over time from a soldier to a king, and it pays particular attention to the great poets, who of course, were responsible for this change. There is a fascinating chapter on Geoffrey of Monmouth, who is the founding father of the somewhat fictitious Arthur that we would recognise today. The authors look in great detail at Monmouth’s life and where he got his facts from - that missing ancient manuscript raises its head again - and more importantly, they look at why Monmouth wrote it in the first place.

The authors show the two sides of Arthur — the Christian King, and the spoilt, arrogant, almost evil Arthur that he was sometimes portrayed as. The book looks at principle players in Arthurian Legend as well - Kay, Mordred, Bedivere, Gawain, and Lancelot, as well as Arthur's Queen all get a mention and as with Arthur, the authors demonstrate where the 'historical' characters came from, and which ones have a rather fictitious beginning!

I thought this book was very well thought out, there are lots of amazing images, a very useful timeline, maps, and everything is chronicled in order, so you really do need to start at the beginning as there is a lot of references to earlier chapters. This is a book that is suitable for those who are just starting out on their Arthurian journey, as well as those that are well on their way into their research. This is a book that I am going to come back to again. It is a welcomed addition to my shelf.

I Highly Recommend.

*I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley, for review consideration*

In English culture, there are few figures to challenge the stature of King Arthur. The question of the historical basis of Arthur, and therefore all the stories that surround him, has raged for centuries. Dozens of sites in England and Wales lay claim as the location of some part of the story. Actual person, or legendary symbol of the archetypal king?


Whatever your position on the question, or your devotion to the stories of Arthur, this book will take you deeper into the story than ever before. Beginning with the understanding that prior to a certain date, the name "Arthur" is essentially unknown in Britain. So it is the legend that makes the name. Who was Lucius Arturis Castus? What of Ambrosius and Vortigern? How can the many, often widely varying, "histories" of the king be reconciled? The Matthews examine it all, including a look at each of the major battles commonly credited to Arthur.

But this doesn't stop there. They also look at the most popular writings about King Arthur, like those of Sir Thomas Malory. In fact, the book carefully examines Arthur from no less than eight different angles. "Arthur of Rome", "Arthur of the Shadows", "Arthur of the Battles", "Arthur of Myth", "Arthur of Britain", "Arthur, Lord of Camelot", "Arthur of Fable" and "Arthur Everywhere". This is as detailed an examination of one of the core characters of British culture as I've ever seen. At the same time, the authors make the book eminently readable.

For the serious student of history and culture, I have to believe this book will soon be required reading on the subject. For the "fan" of Arthurian legend, the book offers a unique insight into these beloved stories. Some sections, for me it was the examination of the battles, may offer more depth of analysis than is desired. A quick skim will reveal more treasures waiting in the next sections to captivate you.

Taking on popular mythology can be a daunting task. In "The Complete King Arthur", the Matthews have created a book that is carefully researched and equally carefully crafted. It is history that will delight you while expanding your understanding.

Why You Will Like It - Surrounded by centuries of legend, the authors offer you an in-depth look at the core of who "Arthur" may have been. They peel away the mythology to reveal an even more nuanced character for the "King of the Britons".

"The Complete King Arthur - Many Faces, One Hero" will be available beginning April 24, 2017.

Rating - **** Recommended

REview will post 5:00 PM, April 19, 2017 at www.theviewfromthephlipside.com