The Britons

This book provides a fascinating and unique history of the Britons from the late Iron Age to the late Middle Ages. It draws on both archaeological and written evidence to trace the development of the distinct culture of the Britons that survived nearly four centuries of Roman rule and has been revived and celebrated by generations ever since.The book:- describes the life and culture of the Britons before, during and after Roman rule- covers the revival of Iron Age practices within a Christian context, typified by the work of Saint Patrick- examines the figures of King Arthur and Merlin and the evolution of a powerful national mythology- proposes a new theory on the Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain and the establishment of separate Brittonic kingdoms- gives an account of the Viking and Norman invasions and their effect on the Britons- reveals the origins of The Brittonic language and its segmentation into Breton, Cornish and WelshThe book also discusses the revivals of interest in British culture and myth over the centuries, from Renaissance antiquarians to modern day Druids.

Christopher A. Snyder is Associate Professor of European History and Chair of the Department of History and Politics at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and a frequent lecturer at the Smithsonian Institution. His previous books include Exploring the World of King Arthur (2000) and An Age of Tyrants: Britain and the Britons, AD 400-600 (1998).