Britain AD: A Quest for Arthur, England and the Anglo-Saxons

ISBN: 0007181868

Author: Pryor, Francis

Condition: New

In Britain A.D. the prehistorian and field archaeologist Francis Pryor explores to effect some of the great origin myths of 'Dark Age' Britain: who were the Celts, the Anglo-Saxons and the Ancient Britons? How real are their legendary leaders such as King Arthur or Hengist and Horsa? How reliable are authors such as Gildas and the Venerable Bede?It was the racial theories of Victorian Englishmen that gave rise to the myth of Anglo-Saxon conquest in order to prove their own superiority to their so-called 'Celtic' neighbours. Arthur, legendary King of the Britons, was in turn used to prop up the Anglo-Saxon invasion theory. The origins of his story lie in Bronze Age Britain, and Francis Pryor shows that continuity of religious and ceremonial ritual runs from the Bronze Age through to the Middle Ages.