King Arthur, Camelot, Excalibur, Merlin, the Holy Grail, Lancelot, andGuinevere-the names conjure up vibrant images of medieval Europe,of chivalry, and of romance. But did Arthur really exist, or is Camelotonly a dream? Christopher Snyder examines the realities and the impact of theArthurian legends. Medieval texts and archaeological discoveries areused to piece together a picture of the fifth and sixth centuries, whenArthur was believed to have reigned as champion of the Britons. Welshand Breton bards sang the exploits of Arthur and his knights, in turninspiring French poets like Chreacute;tien de Troyes to compose the firstchivalric romances of the Middle Ages. Snyder traces the developmentof Arthurian literature in medieval Europe, moving from Britain andFrance to Germany where writers brought the stories of the Grail andTristan into association with Arthur. The nineteenth-century revival ofinterest in Arthur reached its height in the operas of Richard Wagner,while Camelot has found new adherents today through novels, movies,and Arthurian websites. With its spread-by-spread layout, sidebars, timeline, and directoryof Arthurian sites, this is the most thorough exploration of KingArthurrs"s world ever published.