The History of the Kings of Britain: The First Variant Version

Geoffrey of Monmouths History of the Kings of Britainthe earliest work to detail the legendary foundation of Britain by Brutus the Trojan and the life of King Arthurwas among the most widely read books throughout the Middle Ages. Its sweeping account of the Britons began long before the Romans and challenged the leading histories of the twelfth century. Merlin, Guinevere, Mordred, Yvain, Gawain, and other popular Arthurian figures first come to life in Geoffreys chronicle. It was the ultimate source of tales retold in Malorys Morte dArthur, Shakespeares Cymbeline and King Lear, and Tennysons Idylls of the King.

The History survives in hundreds of manuscripts in Geoffreys standard text. This volume presents the first English translation of what may have been his source, the anonymous First Variant Version. This shorter and less polished Latin version of the History is attested in just a handful of manuscripts. It belonged to and was probably written by Archdeacon Walter of Oxford, who died in 1151.