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13th out of 104 books
—
17 voters
The Quest for Arthur's Britain
The story of Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table is the chief myth of Britain. But is it something more than myth? Solid facts have emerged through the recent work of archaeologists. This book examines the historical foundations of the Arthurian tradition, and then presents the results of excavations to date at Cadbury (reputed site of Camelot), Tintagel, Glastonbury...more
Paperback, 252 pages
Published
August 30th 2005
by Academy Chicago Publishers
(first published January 1st 1968)
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Despite many of Ashe's conclusions being overtaken by later scholarship, Quest remains a good resource for the soil from which Arthurian legend sprouted.
I bought this book because I was interested in the history behind the Arthurian Legend, which I love. I learned a very important lesson: do NOT try to search for the truth behind a legend, because it takes away some of the magic. At least that's what it felt like for me.
The informations on the various digs mentioned in the text is very extensive. It talks in detail about any relevant place (such as Glastonbury), what was found there and what it proves. I'm sure that for some people that would be...more
The informations on the various digs mentioned in the text is very extensive. It talks in detail about any relevant place (such as Glastonbury), what was found there and what it proves. I'm sure that for some people that would be...more
Just LOVED this book about the search for an historical Arthur. Ashe actually lives in Glastonbury so he is on-the-spot to investigate sites such as Cadbury and the River Cam. He's a great guy: I was doing some research, wrote to him, and he wrote me back with the answer! Great pictures as well. A must-have for any Arthurian fanatic!
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From very distant memory I've given this 3 stars. It must be going on at least 30 years since I read this. However, I think this book is a good starter for those readers on the quest for the historical Arthur. Forget Richard Harris and Vanessa Redgrave!
Excellent read. Good mixture of archaeology and literary history. Last section traces the influence of Arthurian legend through the ages and its impact on British cultural and political development.
This book helped to direct and define my early career as scholar, historian, teacher, and modern pagan.
Feb 11, 2013
Erik Graff
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Matter of Britain fans
Recommended to Erik by:
no one
Shelves:
history
I read Welch's Britannia, a scholarly book about Roman Britain, in order to prepare to read Ashe's Quest as anything about Arthurian legend, emotions being what they are, is unlikely to be objectively disinterested.
Ashe's collection, perhaps unlike some of the books (he's practically an industry) he wrote entirely by himself, is not bad. It's interested certainly and one imagines Ashe was careful to take material generally congruent to his own ideas, but for the most part the quality of scholars...more
Ashe's collection, perhaps unlike some of the books (he's practically an industry) he wrote entirely by himself, is not bad. It's interested certainly and one imagines Ashe was careful to take material generally congruent to his own ideas, but for the most part the quality of scholars...more
I think there are some compelling arguments in this book. But then I am prone to want things to be disproven rather than proven.
Re-reading this. Interesting summary of the development of the Arthurian legend and the historical facts behind it.
May 15, 2013
Nicole Evelina
is currently reading it
May 23, 2013
Ðɑηηɑ
marked it as will-not-read
Feb 25, 2013
Renee
added it
Feb 08, 2013
Rox
marked it as to-read
Jan 24, 2013
Morganu
added it
Jan 24, 2013
Diana Alexander
marked it as to-read
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
arthurian,
non-fiction
Jan 23, 2013
Lyndia Slawson
marked it as to-read
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Geoffrey Ashe is a British cultural historian, a writer of non-fiction books and novels.
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