A fascinating investigation of king Arthur using the earliest sources. This is a must read for anyone interested in king Arthur.

King Arthur is a legend among legends. With the myth persisting, many have insisted that he was, indeed, a real person.

I think it can be argued, and very well, from the tenor and information provided in this book, that Arthur was indeed a real person - one who was imagined and formed from the characteristics of many. As the legend has grown over the years, so have the qualities and the feats of the supposed king.

I really enjoyed this book! The facts, the layout, the information was easy to follow and very enjoyable!

Which are you - real person or complete myth? This book might just help you determine where you stand.

Man, this was SO dense - fascinating, but just jammed full of names, dates, places, winding timelines, various battle sites and invasion routes... The accompanying maps and charts were helpful in sorting it all out. One thing that would've been a HUGE help is some type of introduction outlining the basic people and places mentioned in the various versions of the Arthurian story, especially the ones that show up again and again in the sources (Vortigern, Uther Pendragon, the two Saxon kings, etc.), just to set the stage and get the reader in the mindset to enter this deep, detailed dive.

Although complex and heavy, it was a great, thought-provoking reading. The author left no stone unturned and no possibility unexplained. There were severa details and facts that seemed superfluous to me, but would be interesting for readers more familiar with history matters.

I'm sucker of everything related to King Arthur and I found this book informative and interesting.
It's full of facts and interesting ideas, well written and engrossing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I have always been a sucker for Arthurian stories and I was thoroughly impressed with this book. Mr. Sullivan has discussed in great detail the many Arthurian stories and even provided a form of timeframe to keep track as you read. I was provided an ARC bi NetGalley so the quality of some of the images was questionable, but when the hardcover version is released I’m sure it will be amazing!!

I've always been fascinated by King Arthur (thanks, Dad!), so when the opportunity came to read and review this book, I couldn't resist. I wasn't disappointed. I think the author was very brave to tackle this subject in the way that he did. There is a huge jumble surrounding the history/myth/legend of "King" Arthur - manuscripts, "histories" that don't match, and even a stone engraving... The only reason I gave this book 4 stars, rather than 5, is because it has given me far too much to think about!
A very good read for those interested in the early history of "Britain" or those who hear the words "King Arthur" and get a gleam in their eye.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advance copy to review. This review is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

King Arthur: Man or Myth? by Tony Sullivan is an intriguing exploration of Arthurian legend and British history. I particularly like that this book gives consideration to all options, the skeptical and the mythical, when trying to piece together real life history. Plus, it's laid out in chronological order which made it a bit easier to keep up. Unfortunately, things get a bit dull trying to keep up with all the dates, names, and details. The copy I read was also tricky to follow since the maps and tables were incomplete or in pieces, and in some cases it was difficult to tell the difference between footnotes and the main text. Overall, if you're interested in the historical aspects of Arthurian legend, you'll probably want to give this book a try.