Historia Regum Britannie of Geoffrey of Monmouth I

Geoffrey of Monmouth's 'Historia Regum Britannie' was one of the most influential literary works of the 12th century. It offered a new and allegedly authoritative history of the British from their first colonisation of the island under Brutus until the late 7th century AD; hence its immediate and lasting popularity. The characters which the author introduced to a wider audience have become central figures in English literature, including the most spectacular of Geoffrey's reshapings, the figure of King Arthur. It is Geoffrey's account of Arthur which lies behind almost all subsequent Arthurian Romance. It is hardly surprising that no comprehensive edition of the 'Historia Regum Britannie' as yet exists, because over two hundred manuscripts survive, many of which have never been thoroughly examined. In practical terms, this new edition, based on Bern, Burgerbibliothek, MSD. 568, will make this important text readily available again; all emendations to correct scribal errors are clearly indicated. M. D. Reeve is Kennedy Professor of Latin at the University of Cambridge.