History of the Britons (Historia Brittonum)

audiobook

History of the Britons (Historia Brittonum)

by active 796 Nennius

EN·~1 hours

Chapters

Description

This early medieval chronicle emerges from the mind of a humble monk who, despite modest learning, set out to rescue the lost stories of his people. Drawing on biblical genealogies, Roman records, and Celtic oral tradition, he weaves a tapestry that stretches from the ages of Adam to the early kings of Britain. His candid preface reveals a sincere concern that the deeds of the Britons not be swept away by foreign conquerors.

The work offers a patchwork of legendary battles, saintly miracles, and the rise and fall of early dynasties, all narrated in a straightforward, sometimes rough style that reflects its author's earnestness. Listeners will hear the echo of a culture striving to define its identity amid the turmoil of post‑Roman Britain. The result is a rare, unvarnished glimpse into how one thirteenth‑century scholar saw his nation's past.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~1 hours (77K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by Bert Olton and David Widger

Release date

2006-02-26

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

active 796 Nennius

active 796 Nennius

Best known as the figure traditionally linked to the Historia Brittonum, a Latin work that helped shape later legends about early Britain and King Arthur. Little is known for certain about the person behind the name, which only adds to the mystery around this early medieval writer.

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