h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I find this period of history intriguing in Britain. There is so little really known after the Roman period (not much written down). Do you know if it is possible to buy a printing (translated) of old Geoff's treatise on the Kings of Britain. Would be a fascinating read for the historical interpretation at that time.

Sure can! It is available on Penguin Classics under the title "The History of the Kings of Britain" (ISBN 0140441700). To be honest about it though, there is not a huge amount of "history" in it as such: more "tradition" (a lot of his writing is inconsistent with other better attested sources). But, it is a very interesting piece on how people of that time (c.1135) thought of the post-Roman period and Anglo-Saxon England. For the post-Roman period, also have a look at Gildas's "The Ruin of Britain" (De Excidio Britanniae), which is edited by M. Winterbottom, and published by Phillimore (ISBN 0850332966).

It certainly is a fascinating period, partly I suspect dues to the lack of information which gives an air of mystery.

Cheers
Bran.

Thanks,

I like reading old books to see what people thought at the time - Compared to modern historical interpretation. I am plouging through Winny Churchill's History of the English Speaking Peoples which covers a bit of this and that - It is very well written. It has a bit of a bent towards describing the development of the English legal and political system - Not suprisingly. There was another (Penuin I believe) book coverin the Norman and Saxon Kings I found interesting.

Just came to remember a few months ago I picked up a couple of 120 yr old volumes of the English Mechanic and Scientist - I also have a volume from 1840 of the early version the Penny Mechanic and Chemist. As I have a scientific interest and education, I find it interesting to see the development of ideas at the time. What is even more interesting is incidental information that shows glimpses of society - like the classified ads. or argumentative correspondence between disagreeing readers.

It would be quite a miracle to have such level of documentary evidence from the first millenium in Britain after Rome. We'll just have to do with some bits of pottery, jewels, weapons, rotten wood and bits of writing from a few monks and peripatetic poets.