The Life of King Arthur

by Lawman Wace, Layamon

'Adventures are so often told about Arthur that they have become the stuff of fiction: not all lies, not all truth' Wace

The Norman writer Wace and the English writer Lawman gave us the first vernacular chronicles of British 'history' from the age of Brutus to Cadwallader and the defeat of the Brittons. The climax of this history is the glorious reign of Arthur. Translating Geoffrey of Monmouth's popular History of the Kings of Britain from Latin into French verse, Wace enriched to the story of Arthur's life and death with additional material: the Round Table was probably his invention. In his turn, Lawman translated Wace and cast a new light on the British king: magically endowned at his birth with fairy gifts, Arthur conquers ferociously and rules with firmness.

Genres: Arthurian, Classics, Mythology, Medieval

351 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1155

Reviews

[Arthur B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing translations of what is, in effect, some of the oldest fanfic in the world, since the texts involved are both attempts to riff on Geoffrey of Monmouth's History of the Kings of Britain. Full review: https://refereeingandreflection.wordp...