King Arthur: History and Legend
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King Arthur: History and Legend
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Narrated by:
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Dorsey Armstrong
About this listen
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.
©2015 The Great Courses (P)2015 The Teaching Company, LLCListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about King Arthur: History and Legend
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Shoppa
- 07-02-23
Excellent and interesting
Very enjoyable, informative lectures covering all aspects of King Arthur related mythology, how it originated and evolved.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lennie
- 05-11-15
Great telling of how the legend is written down through the ages
Dorsey Armstrong is a great storyteller and presents the facts in an easy to understand way. She has presented the legend from our most popular method of the medieval knight back to what is now considered to be his origins from Roman times up to variations of the legend today in all formats.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- MR G S BROWN
- 19-01-23
Fantastic Reader who knows her subject inside &ou.
Love it, always loved the legend and myths of Arthur, the sword(s), Merlin, knights, etc
The professor knows her stuff and speaks with great joy of the subject
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- R. Walter
- 19-01-23
a really good course for beginners
I'm from the British Isles and at first I found it a bit strange that an American was lecturing on a topic so very British. I easily got over this however and was fully engaged within the first introduction lecture. Each lecture is approximately 30mins in length, and the whole course flows much like an audio book in that the lectures form chapters and there is a continuity as it progresses from the oldest source materials to the present. The lectures are insightful and concise, although times I did want more I understand that the course is trying to stick to these bitesize segments of 30mins. The lecturer is enthusiastic and passionate about the subject matter and a joy to listen to as a result. If I was in America I'd definitely enroll on her courses, at times I felt myself wanting to take notes as if I was actually in a classroom! Her depth of knowledge and experience are evident throughout and mixed are personal anecdotes which are both fun and relevant. 5 stars easily for Overall, Performance and although the 'story' isn't originally hers ;) I can't not give 5 stars to Story for one of the most enduring legends, the story of King Arthur.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 02-11-23
Another great listen but....
I absolutely love Ms Armstrong's lectures, I only listened to this as it was her reading, but I really enjoyed it and learnt a lot .
but....I'm Welsh, please let me help you pronounce place and people names!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Guðrún Pétursdóttir
- 05-12-18
Exelant guide through the Arthurian ledgend
Just a great guide through the nooks and crannies of the Arthurian ledgend and in a language that everyone understands. It's not just for literature nerds or scholars it is for everyone who wants to understand the ledgend and what it entails. Professor Armstrong is knowledgeable about her subject without, you don't have to have read all the texts she talks about to enjoy it because she gives you the gist of it. But I recommend reading at least some of them because it will make your journey that more enjoyable. I recommend Sir Gawain and the Green Knight it is everything and not that long or check out the oddness that is Riddarasögur.
I have only one complaint and that is she did not devout one lecture to Morgane lafey but did on all the other major players in the ledgend.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- edward goodwin
- 22-12-22
A grate course in the King Arthur
This is a grate course in the Arthur story and how it change over hundred of years .
The King Arthur story was used by the Norman French to stop legion of Aethelstan and a
Alfred the grate .
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Stacy Danika Alcantara-Garcia
- 10-08-20
Legendary!
This audiobook has been a great refresher course on one of my most favourite works of literature. The narration was also incredible.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- N
- 11-03-21
Exceptional series of lectures
This is an exceptional series of lectures that inform and entertain through the author’s encyclopaedic knowledge and analysis of the subject matter, and her gift of enthusiastic storytelling. I cannot thank Professor Armstrong enough for inspiring me to seek further details of this fascinating legend and the history of my home island.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mr D.
- 13-02-23
Reet gud boon
Professor Armstrong’s students are very lucky. Complete. Succinct. Fun. A magical image of the world yesterday; as connected as ever to the world today.
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