What is the origin of the stories of the Round Table, of Excalibur and the Holy Grail, of Sir Launcelot and Guinevere? And where was Camelot?

King Arthur’s name has echoed down the centuries, conjuring up rich images of mystery and power, chivalry and romance. But did he exist at all? There is no evidence to prove he reigned in the fifth and sixth centuries; no eye-witness accounts of his coronation and no reliable manuscripts outlining his deeds.

This full-colour guide examines the facts of the legends in the tantalising puzzle of King Arthur and his knights. Learn about the origins of the Round Table, the cult of chivalry and conflict between knights, and Arthur's shape-shifting half-sister Moran le Fay. From the origins of Arthurian legend to the new phase in the Arthurian cyce in the romantic revival of the early nineteenth century, read about the tantalizing puzzle that is King Arthur.

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Michael St John Parker is a historian and writer who has written a numerous amount of Pitkin guides. These include King Arthur, William Shakespeare, The Wars of the Roses, Life in Victorian Britain, The Civil War, Britain's Kings and Queens and more.Michael St John Parker is a historian and writer who has written a numerous amount of Pitkin guides. These include King Arthur, William Shakespeare, The Wars of the Roses, Life in Victorian Britain, The Civil War, Britain's Kings and Queens and more.