Customer Reviews:
 Unique and interesting read August 31, 2008
M. J. Leek
In terms of reliability as a historical source Monmouth's History of the Kings of Britain ranges from just plausible to down right nonsensical but you can't take away the sheer brilliance of literary construct on the part of Geoffrey of Monmouth. The farther of Arthurian romance does not fail to entertain.
Only two criticisms which makes it a 4 instead of a 5 star read, Monmouth crams around 2000 years of history into about 250 pages, as such sometimes the book moves at such a pace he just lists kings without passing any comment on them making them instantly forgettable. The only chapter I didn't enjoy was the one on Merlin, I just find it too far out there, maybe it is because I'm a philistine but it just reads like the ramblings of a lunatic.
Must read for those interested in Arthur July 31, 2008
ajk77 (london)
This is the source of so many of the Arthur stories written later that it is an absolute Must Read for anyone interested in the topic. Fortunately for an old text, it's also easy reading as Monmouth has a good eye for a story (which is all history meant at the time).
As history, it's not at all reliable with the kind of distant relationship with anything that may have occured that the Iliad has to Mycenae. Do not treat as anything remotely resembling gospel as he's clearly made up chunks all over the place.
On the other hand, it is believed that he had access to welsh sources other than the Mabinogion, now lost and that alone would be reason to read him.
Not the easiest read but improtant if you are interested in the past November 13, 2007
Mist of Time (UK)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
This needs reviewing on two levels. The easiest is the translation which is very clear on its sources from the various versions of Geoffrey which exist. It does not give too many footnotes in the text - I would have preferred more as I have little other background on the myth. As a first encounter with the text though this version is very accessible, within limits.
The actual tale as far as I can tell is written to condemn the Saxons (called Angles only once) and paint the real Britons as being of great stock, apparently descended from the Trojans and related to the Romans. The Britons have a long history full of strange names and detail - for example the source of King Lear! All very well until we hit Merlin and Uther Pendragon. There is the story of the conception of Arthur and a massive prophecy from Merlin who then mostly vanishes. The Arthur story has the sword Caliburn and Guinevere, noble knights and great battles. Unknown to me Arthur also conquers Iceland, France and Rome! In fact the book is riddled with attacks on Gaul or by Gaul, and Brittany is of course Amorica and really settled by the Britons. Arthur is betray by Mordred and vanishes of allowing the text to quickly pass through to the ultimate demise of the Britons (apart from a few scattered in the places now recognised as Celtic - Wales, Cornwall and so forth).
So the English are the baddies and thankfully the Normans sorted them out in 1066, but one day the Britons will rise with their King Arthur - what will we English do I wonder?
All in all an amusing read, and shows the power of politics and the seeds of the more modern legends.
Thrilling and exciting April 25, 2002
13 out of 23 found this review helpful
For an twelfth century story-book writer, Monmouth does a very good job. His writing style is both entertaining and informative. He does tend to exaggerate quite a bit regarding accurate information, but the book makes a very good read, and there is a whole section devoted to the first fully developed legend of King Arthur.
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