The Holy Kingdom: The Quest for the Real King Arthur

by Adrian Geoffrey Gilbert, Alan Wilson, Baram Blackett

Book Overview

Lost in the mists of time and legend is the true history of Britain before the arrival of the Romans and after their departure. Using ancient historical records, this book asserts that Britain was... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0593040627
• ISBN13: 9780593040621
• Release Date: September 1998
• Publisher: Corgi Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.55 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Adrian Gilbert answers his critics

I have read through the reviews of "The Holy Kingdom", most favourable and some not. It does not surprise me, however, that our critics are vitriolic in their attacks. I have seen for myself how Wilson and Blackett have been the subject of character assasination for daring to lift the lid on what is still a sensitive subject: the Arthurian legacy. I would just like to put the record straight on one or two issues. Wilson and Blackett may be difficult individuals at times (they have plenty of reason) but they are neither fools nor charlatans. If I had thought they were I would have had nothing to do with them. They are two of the most original thinkers I have ever met and they deserve more recognition for their outstanding research. I myself have been criticised for the style of the book. I could, of course, have written it as an academic treatise but the nature of this work and the detailed arguments needing to be presented would have been daunting for most readers. Instead I have written it in the form of a modern day Arthurian Quest. The difference is that this is not fiction: it is fact. Everything happened as I have described it. Years later and after further research, I see that this was but the tip of the ice-berg. In time I shall have to write more on the subject! One other thing: please note that there is more than one author called Adrian Gilbert. I do not write books on warfare, sniping, tanks or anything else of the ilk. My work is mainly concerned with Hermetic mysteries. If you would like to know more, visit my website at www.adriangilbert.co.uk or join the discussion forum I have setup on yahoo. You can reach this through the "forum" link on my website. Adrian Gilbert.

Mind boggling!

What a book. I mean where have Wilson and Blackett been all my life? Their book is excellent with cogent argument, the power of years of on-site research and clear identification of source material.Forget Morris, Ashe and Alcock. The latter had to admit that all the sites around the supposed "camelot", Cadbury Hill, Somerset, were forged in the 1500s by John Leland. A casual glance at Wilson and Blackett's chapter on "The Glastonbury Hoax" plus some research of my onw indicated that the "Glastennen" referred to in ancient Manuscripts dated to circa 250 AD. The fake tourist and music festival site of Glastonbury, Somerset, was founded in 941, so it can't be the same place!Wilson and Blackett are really onto something and this book is but the tip of their particular iceberg. No wonder David Ford, Robert Vermaat and friends are panicked. Take away the Avalon and "mystical Arthur" material so favoured by the dreamers and you get to the truth.That truth, about the real Arthurian Dynasty of the ancient Britons, warts n all, is for all to read. I do hope people will get their copy soon, to avoid disappointment!

A great book on ancient British history

I really enjoyed reading The Holy Kingdom and although I'd be interested to read more about Prince Madoc in America this book acts as a great introduction to the work of Alan Wilson and Baram Blackett's Ancient British Historical Project.I am heartened that the Holy Kingdom is now available in the USA; this project is of immense significance and if we are to flesh out the history of Madoc and Arthur in America in the sixth Century then we need to know where we're coming from...I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It does indeed seem as if Adrian Gilbert caught on to Wilson and Blackett rather late and had an editorial role, whereas they have done all the meaningful research.Let's hope this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship between the publishers and these British historians. Rich in detail, racy in its commentary and sober in its reflection, The Holy Kingdom takes you to the sites of every relevant King Arthur story and even provides a twist in the tale in its debunking of the current Glastonbury hoax...This is a great book, in so many ways...

The only book on the subject worth reading.

Alan Wilson and Baram Blackett have been studying the real history of the two King Arthurs for over 40 years and their research is based only upon hard fact. Their work allows you to access every manuscript, visit every historic site and touch every stone and artefact.Adrian Gilbert simply wrote up their voluminous research and put it into a more reader friendly style, for which we should be grateful.No wonder the academics are scared of Wilson and Blackett. By using the ancient British (in the Welsh and Latin language) manuscripts they have been able to conclusively prove the existence of two King Arthurs, the reality of an early Christian church in Wales that predates St. Augustine (597) and, for example, that Southern Wales was the scene for Arthur 2nd's famous battle at Baedan (Mynydd Baedan). Note that modern Ordnance Survey maps omit many of the real and important historical sites. This happened as a result of the authors initial research. Wilson and Blackett's research shows the deliberate and malicious misdating of ancient monuments and stones by supposed "experts" at the University of Wales, CADW and the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaelogical Trust Ltd, all of whom combined from the early 1980s to shut down the historians' project. Happily, with our full support, they soldier on in true Arthurian style!The truth has always been that they are 100% correct in their conclusions and even Gilbert, ever the skeptic, has had to admit as much. Hence his late involvement in the Ancient British historical project.Against the background of political intrigue and state-funded hostility to their work, many of us are eternally grateful that we will be able to pass on the true history of these lands and our people onto our children. We will be able to take them to see places in Wales and the West Midlands and stand in awe at sites where British history was made.Latterly, we have begun to understand the migration histories of the Khumry-Welsh (wrongly spelled Cymry) who descended from Brutus. The reality of this "invisible kingdom", stretching from Wales through Europe to the middle East, is a remarkable story that logically follows from this important book.Go out and BUY this book - it'll change your perception and you'll overdose on truth!