Scottish book of the week

Arthur Legend, Logic and Evidence Adrian C Grant, Fastprint, £9.95

As Adrian Grant sets out on a quest to find out who the real King Arthur was, we get the chance to explore the depths of history with him. Making sure nothing is missed, he carefully uncovers new evidence, step by step.

Many know the legendary tales of King Arthur but none of them have been confirmed as fact – they’re often referred to as medieval histories and romances rather than solid historical evidence.

The book is set out in an essay format with Grant clearly labelling each step he took in his investigation. He paves the way toward his attempt at finally solving the debate of Arthur’s existence: who was he and what kind of life did he really live?

Although evidence supports that Arthur did exist, to date he can only be described as a mythological figure. However, in his book, the author identifies the sites of 12 famous battles that gave Arthur his legendary persona, and uses this to specify the possible circumstances of his death.

He also explains aspects of Arthurian legends including Camelot, Avalon and Excalibur to show where these fantasies may have originated.

Investigating the boundaries between history and legend, it’s evident that Grant’s research is painstakingly detailed, as his book contains not only an enormous and diverse quantity of information, but is well sourced to reinforce his evidence.

I found this book opened my eyes to the familiar myth of King Arthur, although at times I found it a little hard going, feeling more like research than easy reading.

6/10