Arthur and the Britons in Wales and Scotland

by William Forbes Skene

English (translation)
Original Welsh

164 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

William Forbes Skene was a Scottish historian and antiquary. He was the second son of James Skene of Rubislaw, near Aberdeen, who was a friend of Sir Walter Scott. He was educated at Edinburgh Academy in Edinburgh and at the University of St Andrews, taking an especial interest in the study of Celtic philology and literature. In 1832, he became a Writer to the Signet (WS), and shortly afterwards obtained an official appointment in the bill department of the Court of Session, which he held until 1865.

Skene's early interest in the history and antiquities of the Scottish Highlands bore its first fruit in 1837, when he published The Highlanders of Scotland, their Origin, History and Antiquities. His chief work, however, is his Celtic Scotland, a History of Ancient Alban (3 volumes, Edinburgh, 1876–1880), perhaps the most important contribution to Scottish history written during the 19th century.

The most important of Skene's other works are: editions of John of Fordun's Chronica gentis Scotorum (Edinburgh, 1871–1872); of the Four Ancient Books of Wales (Edinburgh, 1868); of the Chronicles of the Picts and Scots (Edinburgh, 1867); and of Adomnán's Vita S. Columbae (Edinburgh, 1874); an Essay on the Coronation Stone of Scone (Edinburgh, 1869); and Memorials of the Family of Skene of Skene (Aberdeen, 1887).

Reviews

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is well over a century since this little book was written by W F Skene, and it is now over a quarter of a century since it was published in its currently available form by Llanerch Press. For all it's age it is still a very useful and readable introduction to the traditional history of the Gwyr y Gogledd, the Men of the North or the north British kingdoms, preserved in Old Welsh sources. In it Skene advanced his theory that the legends associated with King Arthur are properly situated in these northern kingdoms, rather than in the south as usually assumed. His book as a whole does much to reinstate the surviving traditions of these previously marginalised territories to the mainstream of British history.

[Annie McArthur · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, however I did find all the names, places and events discussed hard to follow. I think maybe this book would be best for someone with a bit of prior knowledge to this era. That being said, I enjoyed reading the poetry, and my interest in this era and the authors theory on Arthur has been piqued now.