The History of the Kings of Britain by Geoffrey of Monmouth

It helped the author to achieve the brilliant effect and its influence on many other spheres of British life. He managed to mix dramatic and cruel real historical events with mythical tales and legends.

The author began with the introduction of the tribes and their invasions and up to the peculiarities of the king’s government. He introduced the chronology in such detail that one can observe all the steps of the heroes of that time. Geoffrey strived to create the detailed epic history making it real and interesting. The historical genre used by the author in the book under analysis was aimed at the description of the early British legends about the country and its kings. The fields of art and literature used this book as the most important component for the creation of the world masterpieces of history due to this fact the history of Britain is widely known everywhere. This work was translated into many world languages and spread throughout the whole world. It influenced the works of such famous writers as Shakespeare, Spenser, Malory, and many others. It is important to stress that this book became the background of many historical sources written later. “…thousands of soldiers were drowned as the river water flowed into the holed ships and sucked them down” (Geoffrey of Monmouth, 112) The writer managed to highlight all the historical facts covering Roman invasions and all British wars. The book shows all the events of British life history beginning with the Trojan diaspora and its fall. The historical genre of the book was used by the author in order to mix legends with the real facts from the history of Great Britain. This genre performs informational and educational functions highlighting all the peculiarities of that time. the reflection of the epic genre in the book provides the readers to be completely involved in the chronological events of epic Britain. It includes the stories of King Arthur, North Wales kings, invasions of Julius Caesar, etc.

It is interesting to note that this book is a mixture of two genres: epic and historical which is why the book is really the reflection of ancient historical times. This book left a print not only on the world of literature but also influenced such areas as art and history. It depicts the chronological development of Britain’s history in ancient times covering the periods of kings from 625 AD. This is Giles' 1848 revision of Thompson's 1718 edition.History of the Kings of Britain written by Geoffrey of Monmouth is considered a combination of myths and historical facts. More medieval romance than history, Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae represents the oldest versions we have of many legends of Britain, populated by such characters as the Leir, Cymbeline, Uther and Arthur Pendragon and Cadwallader. Download cover art Download CD case insert History of the Kings of Britain

The History of the Kings of Britain by Geoffrey of Monmouth