"The answers you get from literature depend upon the questions you pose." … Margaret Atwood
Welcome to Arbroch: Seat of Argyll
Since the vast body of materials, fact and fiction, that have been inspired over the centuries by the Matter of Britain is second only to the Bible itself, I have come to the conclusion that a "Dark Age" warlord named Arthur must have existed at some point in Britain's history. The theories about who this man might have been, in which century he flourished, and what "really" happened during the period of his military and political influence upon the British landscape are as numerous and varied as the stars.
The theory I have adopted for use in my novels is that Arthur was a Romano-Celt who, as Dux Britanniarum, commanded the forces defending the territory between the Antonine and Hadrianic walls. From everything I've been able to piece together through three decades of research, the period in which he lived was a chaos of conflicting military, political, religious, social, moral and cultural agendas. Bringing the cultural clash to Arthur at the most personal level, in DAWNFLIGHT he meets and falls in love with the woman destined to become his soul-mate in the unification of Britain: a Pictish warrior-chieftainess named Gyanhumara of Clan Argyll.
The title of this web page, ARBROCH: Seat of Argyll, is Chieftainess Gyanhumara's home fortress, Arbroch -- which is in reality the Ardoch Roman fort in Perthshire, described in DAWNFLIGHT as having been captured by Gyanhumara's ancestors several generations prior to the opening of the story. Through a series of events to be related in a future novel, Gyanhumara and her clansmen will conquer the territory corresponding to modern-day Argyllshire.
The Pictish-style flying doves, original artwork created by myself, represent Clan Argyll's symbol, as described in DAWNFLIGHT.
The background for this page is a photograph of a scaled, resin replica of one one of the stones at the Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum in Perthshire, Scotland. Local legend claims it is Guinevere's gravestone. Since Meigle is reputed to be the oldest village in Scotland, perhaps the local legend is correct! The replica can be ordered online from Plaide Palette.
A small-scale replica of several Pictish stones can be ordered through Jaracraft. I obtained the graphics I use as backgrounds to my bookstore pages from a file compiled by Ben Buckner, which I cleaned up and colored. Examples of other Pictish symbols can be found in the animated GIFs on the Reference books page, and also on the other bookstore pages.
As an Amazon.com associate, I am in the (never-ending!) process of making available reference works dealing with post-Roman Britain and its various ethnic groups, including the Celts, Picts, Scots, and Germanic tribes, Celtic religious studies, as well as adult and juvenile fiction, music, audio books, and videos. If you order through my site, I get a commission on each sale -- so please help keep this site online, and shop here often!
Now Available: Arthurian books and audiobooks from Amazon.co.uk.
Index
Click on one of the 
s for:
My review of Monty Python's SPAMALOT, Opening Weekend on Broadway with Original Cast, including Tim Curry as King Arthur, 19 March 2005.
Book Review: The Doom of Camelot anthology, edited by James Lowder
Book Review: The Hallowed Isle Books I & II by Diana Paxson
My review of Camelot, starring Robert Goulet, at Wolf Trap Park, Vienna, VA, on September 3, 1998.
My favorite Arthurian and related reference sites, and online articles.
Arthurian Reference materials: Books about post-Roman Britain, Picts, Celts, and Anglo-Saxons, as well as comentaries on Arthurian art, music, and cinematography … 
indicates a favorite book in my collection.
Matters of the soul: Celtic Christianity, Holy Grail studies, mythology, etc. … indicates a favorite book in my collection.
Ancient Texts, Anthologies and Commentaries of medieval and earlier Arthurian works … indicates a favorite book in my collection.
Arthurian Fiction: Post-medieval and contemporary adult Arthurian fiction, poetry and anthologies … indicates a favorite book in my collection.
Arthurian Young Adult/Juvenile Fiction: includes Arthurian titles deemed by Amazon as suitable for all ages; many are worthwhile for the lavish illustrations alone! "Upper Junior" class teaching materials also are available. indicates a favorite book in my collection.
Arthurian Music, audio books, videos: Non-print media with Arthurian themes … 
indicates a favorite item in my collection.
My Favorite Arthurian Sites
Many folks around the world have poured a lot of effort into their Arthurian-related and other research sites. Here are a few of my favorites. If you have a favorite that's not listed here, find a broken link, or if you have any specific questions, please email me!
Ancient Scotland, a wealth of information for those wishing to puruse the Scottish Arthurian connection- Anglo-Saxon Age
- Arthur the Matter of Britain -- more Arthurian links
- Arthurian Book List -- used to be the most comprehensive listing of Arthurian fiction and nonfiction on the Internet, but hasn't been updated in several years.
- The Arthurian FAQ has good info on the main page, but many broken links.
- Arthurian Graphics -- an extraordinary collection of Arthurian art
- Tom Green's Arthurian Resources is a good compendium
- Arthuriana -- quarterly journal published by the North American Branch of the International Arthurian Society. You must belong to the Society to search the archives, but well worth the cost for the serious scholar.
- Arthurnet -- the premier Arthurian email list; this site gives access to subscription information, as well as the keyword-searchable archives.
- An article about Brigantia, Cartimandua and Gwenhwyfar
- Camelot & Arthurian Legend
- The Camelot Project at the University of Rochester -- lots of great information, pictures, etc. Source of most of the Guinevere pictures I've used in the animated montages on this page.
- Camlann Medieval Village -- an annual renaissance faire, teaching resource, seasonal feasts, and more! I visited the faire in the late 80s and can definitely vouch for its authenticity. :)
- Castles of Britain -- great castles reference.
- Boudica, "Celtic War Queen Who Challenged Rome" excellent article sponsored by HistoryNet, published April 2004.
- Celtic Studies, presented by Tom Griffen
- Celtic Twilight -- online texts, book reviews, bulletin board, etc.
- Damosels of the Table Round concentrates on the women of the legends
- Dark Isle Castles and other historic sites in Britain, Pictish stones, etc. A wealth of information and pictures here!
- David Nash Ford's Early British Kingdoms site contains dozens of articles relating to (what else) the early British (Celtic) kingdoms, their rulers, geneologies, contemporary saints and adversaries, archaeology, and, of course, King Arthur.
- Early Medieval Resources for the British Isles and Brittany -- timelines, bibliographies, more links, etc.
- Excalibur found in Scotland? An interpretation of the Pictish symbol commonly known as the "tongs."
- Sony Pictures' official First Knight page no longer exists, but photos and information can be gleaned from Movieweb.
- Green Knight Publishing specializes in Arthurian novels, nonfiction and roleplaying games. This site includes book catalog, forthcoming works, submission guidelines, news, etc.
- Guinever's Castles -- another great castles reference.
- Historic Scotland, the official government-run site, containing literally a wealth of information about places, events, and more.
- Britannia Magazine's well presented King Arthur site
- The Usenet King Arthur newsgroup. Share your questions, your theories, and your love of the Legends here!
- The Labyrinth of medieval studies gets you virtually anywhere you wish to go in pursuit of medieval knowledge.
- Lancelot's Castle has great info, graphics, background music from Monty Python, site awards, etc.
- Legends -- Arthur, D'Artagnan, Robin Hood and more
- Llys Arthur (Arthur's Court) -- lots of online source texts, etc.; a bit dated now.
- Meigle Pictish Stones page, hosted by Undiscovered Scotland, features a tantalizing snapshot of the largest collection of Pictish symbol-stones existing under one roof, which I was privileged to visit in July 4, 2002.
- Mystical Arthurian Places has good information about places such as Glastonbury and Tintagel, but would benefit from including some pictures.
- Author Nancy McKenzie -- backlist, forcoming books, etc.
- The "Once and Future" Oxford Arthurian Society
- The Page o' Guinevere is also dated, but contains good basic info about Guinevere.
- Pictavia picks up where the Pictish Arts Society, who used to run a fine web site, left off!
- Pictish Nation -- "the oldest Pictish site on the Internet" and source of a lot of great information and Pict-related links.
- The official Prince Valiant comic page
- Pyle & Tennyson Lady of Shalott Page
- Quest For Camelot movie, 1998 (Warner Brothers official site)
- A BBC News article about Stonehenge and plans to "naturalize" the site -- see also this article in Sky News.
- Author T.A. Barron -- backlist, forcoming books, etc.
- The Caer -- good collection of historical Arthurian resources
- The Heroic Age online journal of Dark Age and Medieval history
- The Quest, sponsored by the University of Idaho, hasn't been updated since 1998, but still offers a great art gallery, games, essays, etc.
- The Scottish Legend of King Arthur news article presented by the BBC.
- Lady Gwenhwyfar's The Summer Land contains beautiful graphics, but hasn't been updated in a long while.
- Three Geese in Flight Bookstore -- specializing in rare and out-of-print Arthurian and Celtic books and other materials
- University of Glasgow's 1998 Tintagel Excavations, featuring the controversial "Artgonov" (or "Artgonou") memorial stone.
- University of Virginia's online library of medieval texts
Revised 25 March 2009 
