Geoffrey of Monmouth

In this beautifully crafted new entry in Twayne's English Authors Series, Michael J. Curley sets out to instruct the nonspecialist in the events of Geoffrey's career, the techniques governing his three known works - the History, The Prophecies of Merlin, and The Life of Merlin-, and Geoffrey's enduring appeal as commentator on the human condition. Geoffrey's characters "are driven by passion, greed, rivalry, a thirst for glory and adventure, a restless spirit, and a consciousness of their origins," Curley asserts in his preface; "Above all, they are imbued with a sense of their own autonomy." In the five chapters that follow, Curley provides cogent biographical and background information, treats each of Geoffrey's works, and addresses the many issues scholars have raised about the writer. Throughout, Curley guides readers gracefully through complex, highly influential works of not just the Middle Ages but indeed Western civilization, amply demonstrating the power of Geoffrey's contribution to British historiography and cultural myth.