A reference work which presents the history of Britain in biographical form. The two volumes contain over 1500 short biographies of men and women who played an important part in their time.

The story has been told for centuries—yet it remains one of the most exciting tales in history. The chivalrous King Arthur, his beautiful Queen Guinevere, and the brave knight Lancelot. Even the characters themselves seem too incredible to be real . . . So were they? Did a real king named Arthur ever actually exist? And if so, did he fight with a magical sword named Excalibur or lose his beloved lady to his most trusted friend and protector? Like most legends, a fair part of Arthur’s story was likely embellished over the centuries to be certain. But a real King Arthur may have indeed lived during the fifth century.