The Quest for King Arthur

With sumptuous visuals and informative narration, The Quest for King Arthur sets forth what scholars currently do and don't know about the tantalizing mystery of a "real" King Arthur. A good portion of the documentary focuses on the legends, but legend is never confused for fact.

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Getting the facts about the "real" King Arthur, if he did indeed exist, is often problematic. There's a tendency on the part of Arthur enthusiasts to begin from the premise that there was an Arthur, and that we can find out who he really was if we just look hard enough.

But scholars understand that a legend doesn't necessarily have its basis in fact. It could originate from the fertile imagination of a storyteller; it could have evolved from older myths; it could be a combination of many factors. There may not have ever been a historical figure that we can identify as King Arthur.

The Quest for King Arthur is an enjoyable documentary that acknowledges the fact that we do not know, and may never know, whether or not there was a historical individual on whom the legends are based. At the same time, the program illustrates the importance of the legend of Arthur in medieval times. The documentary also takes a look at the archaeological aspects as well as the historical ones in seeking fact.

Whether "real" or not, King Arthur will always be with us. The Quest for King Arthur gives the history buff a sound starting point for learning about and understanding the legend, if not the man. I recommend it for any Arthur enthusiast; and if you aren't in the market, I advise you to keep your eyes open for the next time it comes on The History Channel.