The British Chronicles, Volume 1 |
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While this looks like it is a well researched and fascinating work, as an academic and author myself I find it a bit frustrating that I can find no information about who the author is or his credentials. And whilst there are original sources cited in general, like Monmouth or Holinshed, I should like to know more specific referencing, like for example the passage about Ogma/Ogmios on p.27, from what specific source of 'Gallic mythology' does the story that Ogmios was vanquished by Hercules and brought in chains to Greece? Or where specifically does Monmouth write that Ogrfan/Ogmios' son was Gogmagog? This is great information but as a researcher who prefers to read original sources myself I should like to know where to look it up. But apart from these concerns I'm really impressed that a researcher is combining mainstream academic and archaeological perspectives with ancient histories and mythologies. The further one goes back in time, the more difficult it is to distinguish 'historical facts' from 'fiction'; but instead of throwing the baby out with the bathwater as some academics seem to do by assuming all myths are complete fiction, I think it is important to learn the myths too and glean what we can from them, as I feel they do often contain some amount of historical truths. 'Mythological' characters could very well have been kings, queens or heroes who once historically lived whose memories were kept alive for many ages, as ancient genealogies were kept and passed down to generations with the utmost sacrosanct care and we should pay attention to them.
The excerpts I have read from this book are complete hogwash. No truth in this writing that I've seen.
Contents
CELTIC BREHINS THE OLD BRITISH ROYAL HOUSE | 49 |
ROMAN BRITAIN | 104 |
BRITISH EMPERORS | 118 |
RULERS TYRANTS KINGS OF DARK AGE BRITAIN | 141 |
THE AGE OF ARTHUR | 165 |
ANGLOSAXON BRETWALDAS | 223 |
THE VIKING AGE | 268 |
THE OLD ENGLISH ROYAL HOUSE | 284 |
THE CONQUEROR HIS SUCCESSORS | 303 |