`This book is a welcome review of what we really need know about 5th- to 6th-century Britain ... well written and peppered with a dry sense of humour.' The Lady `Written by our leading authority on Early Medieval Warfare this sweeping synthesis cuts through all the fantasy Arthuriana to the chaotic reality of the tumultuous years after the end of Roman Britain. With a fresh and incisive look at all the key sources, and a masterly and imaginative use of the archaeological evidence, Guy Halsall offers nothing less than a rethinking of what happened at the time of the Anglo-Saxon migrations. Readable, authoritative, and witty, this is an ambitious and wide ranging synthesis which will appeal to all who are interested in the history behind one of the world's greatest collections of myths and stories, vividly recreating the fractured world out of which medieval Britain emerged. And while some may regret the loss of the Hollywood Arthur, Halsall shows us that behind that image is a reality which is no less fascinating.' Michael Wood, historian, broadcaster and author of In Search of the Dark Ages `[Guy Halsall] has produced a brilliant portrait of Britain in the 5th and 6th centuries, drawing on literary and archeological sources to challenge almost every orthodoxy of the age. Those who desire a surprisingly witty, intellectually rigorous and historically captivating journey deep into the crucible of medieval Britain will enjoy this book immensely.' Dan Jones, Sunday Times `Worlds of Arthur manages to be both scholarly and readable. It is a considerable achievement.' Times Literary Supplement `Guy Halsall is a rarity - not only an Englishman at home abroad, but also a historian who can handle archaeology with equal deftness. He writes engagingly and isn't afraid to say what he thinks. This is a fantastic book which deserves to sell thousands of copies, not only to academic early medievalists but also to fantasy junkies lured by the clever cover.' British Archaeology Magazine `an exciting book' Anne Lawrence-Mathers, History

The story of King Arthur - and what we can ever know about him Shows how all previous books on the 'real Arthur' can safely be ignored Looks at all the 'worlds' of Arthur: the 'historical', the mythical, the fantastical - and the actual Shows how the 'historical' Arthur is in many ways as dubious a figure as the 'red herrings' of the pseudo-historical fantasies Reveals a truth about Arthur and his times both radically different and a good deal more intriguing than past accounts

Guy Halsall has taught at the universities of London and York, where he has been a professor of history since 2003. His early specialism was in the history and archaeology of the Merovingian period (c.450-c.750), and he has since published widely on a broad range of subjects: death and burial, age and gender, violence and warfare, barbarian migrations, and humour. This investigation into the 'worlds of Arthur' brings him back to the study of early medieval British history and archaeology with which his scholarly training began.

The story of King Arthur - and what we can ever know about him Shows how all previous books on the 'real Arthur' can safely be ignored Looks at all the 'worlds' of Arthur: the 'historical', the mythical, the fantastical - and the actual Shows how the 'historical' Arthur is in many ways as dubious a figure as the 'red herrings' of the pseudo-historical fantasies Reveals a truth about Arthur and his times both radically different and a good deal more intriguing than past accounts