Date:
Monday, 07/27/2026
Time: 7:00 pm
Category:
Was there a Real King Arthur? The legends of King Arthur are among the most famous and influential in western literature and call to mind knights in armor, highborn ladies, wizards, courtly manners and, of course, the Round Table. What few know is that these legends, developed largely during the Middle Ages by writers such as Thomas Mallory and Geoffrey of Monmouth, are based on the shadowy figure of an Arthur, a “Leader in Battles” mentioned briefly centuries before. This war-leader appeared during the tumultuous period after the island of Britain had been abandoned by the failing Roman Empire and found itself assailed by barbarians such as Picts and Saxons. This presentation will discuss the early appearances of Arthur in these ancient sources, and address the history of his times. Was there a real King Arthur? Views differ, but why not hear the evidence and decide for yourself?
About the Presenter:
Erik Hildinger is the author of several books both of fiction and history, such as Warriors of the Steppe, Swords Against the Senate, Fortuna at the Rudder and, with this wife, Plan 9 for Murder. He has long been interested in the King Arthur tales and in the history behind them, which led him to write Quirinius, An Elegy on the Loss of Roman Britain, an historical novel based on the events from which the earliest Arthurian legends arose. He lives in Dexter, Michigan and can be found on the web at his Substack, which is substack.com/@erikhildinger.
This program will be in the Library’s Lower Level meeting room. Registration is appreciated. Scroll down to register or call 734-426-4477 (ext. 120).
This program is part of the 2026 Adult Summer Reading Program: Unearth a Story. Attendees do not have to be participating in the Adult Summer Reading Program to attend. All are welcome!
