The story of King Arthur - probably the most famous and certainly the most legendary of medieval kings.

The story of King Arthur - probably the most famous and certainly the most legendary of medieval kings.

Drawing on medieval texts and archaeological discoveries, studies the Arthurian legend and its impact, and traces the development of Arthurian legends in medieval European myth.

1601. Queen Elizabeth I is dying. With no heir for the kingdom, potential successors secretly maneuver to be in position when the inevitable occurs. The leading candidate is King James VI of Scotland, but there is a problem. The queen's spymasters fear that James' claim to be a Protestant are untrue. If he secretly shares his family's Catholicism, then forty years of religious war will have been for nothing, and a bloodbath will ensue. It falls to Geoffrey Belloc to devise a test to discover the true nature of King James's soul. Belloc enlists Mahmoud Ezzedine, a Muslim physician from the Ottoman Empire, as his undercover agent. -- adapted from jacket

Who exactly was King Arthur? What is the evidence for him as a historical figure, and how does this relate to the hero of the medieval romances and other legends? This book seeks to answer these and other questions relating tothe story of King Arthur.

Surveys the known history of King Arthur, the legends and lore surrounding him, his treatment in literature, and the possible historical background of his associates and stories.