Celtic Myth And Arthurian Romance [Paperback]

Roger Sherman Loomis LOOMIS (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 30, 2005

King Arthur was not an Englishman, but a Celtic warrior, according to Roger Sherman Loomis, whose research into the background of the Arthurian legend has revealed findings that are both illuminating and controversial. This study will keep the controversy of the 'real' Arthur alive.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

King Arthur was not an Englishman, but a Celtic warrior according to Roger Loomis, whose special research into the background of the Arthurian legend has revealed findings which are both illuminating and highly controversial. Loomis sees the vegetarian goddess as the prototype of many damsels in Arthurian romance, and Arthur's knights as the gods of sun and storm. And Guenivere is the leading lady in a nature myth while her son Mordred plays the part of the Irish god Mider. Arthur himself is another form of the Maimed King, embodiment of the enfeebled forces of Nature awaiting spring. If Loomis' arguments are accepted, where does this leave the historic Arthur? Was Arthur a god from the beginning? It's probable that Arthur began as an historical figure, grew in stature in Welsh, Dumnonian and Breton myth and completed his ultimate persona by reigning supreme in European romance. Celtic Myth And Arthurian Romance is engaging reading and an important, original, and insightful contribution to Arthurian studies. -- Midwest Book Review

Product Details

• Paperback: 371 pages
• Publisher: Academy Chicago Publishers (August 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0897334361
• ISBN-13: 978-0897334365
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,535,838 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing insights into the Arthurian myth, February 12, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Celtic Myth And Arthurian Romance (Paperback)

For anyone who's ever been fascinated by the tales of Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, here's a book that puts it all in the fascinating context of Celtic mythology. The stock elements of Arthurian legend--the enchanted castles, the abducted princesses, the contests with mysterious knights--are revealed to have a coherent esoteric meaning.As Loomis writes, to understand the relationship between the familiar tales of Camelot and the wilder Irish myths "is to open suddenly the mountainsides into the glittering palaces of the Sidhe"--the home of the Celtic gods.

The brilliance of Roger Loomis--who wrote in the 1920s--is that while he draws the same kind of fascinating connections as Robert Graves, Loomis does so through careful argument and documentation. His work should inform any serious discussion of the origins of the Arthurian tales and the meaning of the Holy Grail.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A new side of the debate about who King Arthur truly was, May 6, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Celtic Myth And Arthurian Romance (Paperback)

Celtic Myth And Arthurian Romance by Arthurian scholar Roger Loomis is a fascinating, persuasive, documented argument for the theory that the King Arthur of history was not an Englishman, but rather a Celtic warrior. Carefully annotated and researched chapters draw connections between the Camelot legend and Celtic lore, and bring to life a new side of the debate about who King Arthur truly was. An exciting and original analysis of one of history's most beloved eras and leaders, Celtic Myth And Arthurian Romance is a welcome and highly recommended addition to Arthurian studies reading lists and academic reference collections.