King Arthur in antiquity vs The History of the Kings of Britain: Which Should You Read?
Both live on shelves: Sources, Britons, Kings and rulers, Legends, Arthurian romances, History
King Arthur in antiquity
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This original and compelling study argues against the traditional identification of Arthur as a king in Celtic Britain. Instead, Graham Anderson explores the evidence for two much older figures, known to classical…
The History of the Kings of Britain
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The History of the Kings of Britain, by Geoffrey of Manmouth, with introduction by J. A. Giles. The Historia Regum Britanniae (English: The History of the Kings of Britain) is a pseudohistorical account of British…
Side by side
The verdict
- Ratings are close across the board — any is a safe pick by score.
- King Arthur in antiquity is the quickest read — about 4 hours vs 7 for The History of the Kings of Britain.
- The History of the Kings of Britain has the widest readership — 7026 ratings behind its score.
- The History of the Kings of Britain reaches further in scholarship and criticism — cited 61 times.
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How to choose
Scores by source
| King Arthur in antiquity | The History of the Kings of Britain | |
|---|---|---|
| Goodreads | 3.1 (7) | 3.7 (7026) |
| Hardcover | — | 3.4 (7) |
| Apple Books | — | 2.5 (6) |
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Reception
| King Arthur in antiquity | The History of the Kings of Britain | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | 7 | 7026 |
| Editions | 9 | 6 |
| Citations | 5 | 61 |
| Film adaptations | — | 1 |
| Want to read | — | 12065 |
| Reading it now | — | 610 |
| Written reviews | — | 426 |
| Wikipedia attention | — | 7703 |
| Pages | 224 | 388 |
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Questions readers ask
Which is rated higher: King Arthur in antiquity or The History of the Kings of Britain?
The History of the Kings of Britain has the higher combined reader rating across sources (The History of the Kings of Britain 3.7/5, King Arthur in antiquity 3.7/5).
Which is shorter to read: King Arthur in antiquity or The History of the Kings of Britain?
King Arthur in antiquity is the quickest read. Estimated at 225 words per minute: King Arthur in antiquity (224 pages, ≈ 4 h 09 m); The History of the Kings of Britain (388 pages, ≈ 7 h 11 m).
Which is harder to read: King Arthur in antiquity or The History of the Kings of Britain?
Estimated difficulty, based on era, reader shelves and length — King Arthur in antiquity: Challenging; The History of the Kings of Britain: Moderate.