
King Arthur: History and Legend
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Narrated by:
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Dorsey Armstrong
The saga of King Arthur and his court is the most enduringly popular mythic tradition of Western civilization. For over 1,500 years, the Arthurian narrative has enthralled writers, artists, and a limitless audience spanning the Western world and beyond - and its appeal continues unabated in our time. No other heroic figure in literature compares with King Arthur in terms of global popularity and longevity; now, each year sees literally thousands of new versions of the story appear across diverse media, from fiction writing and visual arts to film and popular culture. Delve into the historical mystery behind the figure of Arthur, and discover the magnificent breadth of these epic tales.
These 24 spellbinding lectures reveal the full scope of the Arthurian tradition, from its beginnings in post-Roman Britain to its extraordinary trajectory across the centuries and its latest incarnations in modern times. Your pathfinder in this world of mythic adventure and romance, Professor Armstrong, is one of the world's leading Arthurian scholars and the current editor-in-chief of the academic journal Arthuriana. Demonstrating both encyclopedic knowledge and an infectious passion for the subject, she leads you in tracing how the myth developed across time, clarifying many misunderstood aspects of the narrative, such as the origins of the Round Table and the figure of Merlin, the illicit love between Lancelot and Guenevere, and the varied manifestations of the magical Holy Grail. You'll discover how the legend was appropriated and assimilated by differing cultures, and how each writer and artist in the tradition reflected and commented, through the Arthurian narrative, on the concerns of their own time and place. The result is an illuminating look at one of the most engaging, entertaining, and influential legendary traditions the world has ever known.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.
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Highly recommended for both novices and serious scholars.
A must for lovers of the Arthur legend
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legend leads 2 literary trad'n & lasting pop motif
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The good - this professor is an engaging and energetic lecturer and I would recommend her other Great Courses too. I did learn a lot that I didn't know about the historical context for an Arthur like figure, and I found that all fascinating. Her lecture style would be interesting to younger people and homeschoolers.
Although there were a few lectures that dragged for me, overall this was enjoyable and highly recommended.
interesting look at the Medieval Arthur lit
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Extremely informative and a pleasure to the ears
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First experience with The Great Courses
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Armstrong is a fantastic lecturer
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Enjoy!
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I’ve listened to a few of the Great Courses series and this has been my favourite so far.
Just great! I really enjoyed these lectures.
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King Arthur in History…for sure!!
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Beautiful.
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