History of the Kings of Britain (Masterplots, Revised Second Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Geoffrey of Monmouth
- First Published: 1136
- Type of Work: History
- Genres: Nonfiction, History
- Subjects: History, England or English people, Kings, queens, or royalty, Scotland or Scottish people, Middle Ages, Great Britain, Knights or knighthood, Nobility, Monarchy, Anglo-Saxons
Critical Evaluation:
Geoffrey of Monmouth, a scholarly clergyman who was to become bishop of St. Asaph’s in Wales, undertook to write a national history of Britain from its origin through the seventh century, some nineteen centuries of history by his reckoning. Arranged in twelve books, on the pattern of Vergil’s Aeneid (29-19 b.c.e.), Geoffrey’s account traces the reigns of nearly a hundred British kings, beginning with the nation’s mythical founder Brutus. As in the Aeneid, there is an important contrast between the first six and the final six books. The...
[The entire page is 2046 words long]
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
See Also
