In Search of Arthur: Exploring Early Welsh Literature on the King of the Britons

In Search of Arthur: Exploring Early Welsh Literature on the King of the Britons

Fall (14 hours or more) | This course is completed

48 Lebanon Street Hanover, NH 03755 United States

Room 212

New Course

9/28/2018-11/16/2018

10:30 AM-12:30 PM EDT on Fri

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$80.00

Who was King Arthur? Was he real or just an undying legend? In this course we will study several early works created in or imported into pre-Norman England from Wales, with hints at some Irish influences. We will explore the writings by Geoffrey of Monmouth particular to Arthur. Framing our reading throughout the course will be The Discovery of Arthur by Geoffrey Ashe. First published in 1985, this startling study was reissued in an updated edition in 2005 as recent archaeological discoveries have supported many of Ashe’s formerly criticized ideas. Yes, there likely was an “Arthur” and this class will explore in detail why this should be true.

  • There is a required reading packet for this course.
  • The History of the Kings of Britain (ISBN: 978-0140441703) by Geoffrey of Monmouth.
  • The Discovery of Arthur (ISBN: 978-0750942119) by Geoffrey Ashe is only available online.

Sarah L. Welsch received her Bachelor’s degree from Smith College and her Masters from Northwestern University where she studied 19th century American Literature. She has made many visits to Tenants Harbor, Maine, and visited archives in Boston and Maine for her research on Sarah Orne Jewett. Before she retired in 2014, she spent four decades in book publishing, including Dartmouth’s UPNE and Northwestern University Press. She lives in Lebanon, NH.