The legends of King Arthur were extremely popular in the Medieval period, just as they are today. Countless Arthurian texts were written throughout Britain and Europe during the Medieval era, and thousands more have been written about Arthur in the modern era. With so much to choose from, if you are interested in learning about the real story, or rather the legend, of Arthur and his knights, where should you start? Read on for our top picks for the best six books to read to learn about King Arthur and his world.1. Historia Regum Britanniae, by Geoffrey of Monmouth (Originally 12th Century)Manuscript of Geoffrey of Monmouths Historia Regum Britanniae, Peniarth MS 23c, folio 13r, c. 12th century. Source: National Library of WalesThis first recommendation is actually a medieval text, one of the primary sources for the Arthurian legends. It was written by Geoffrey of Monmouth in c. 1137, and it is generally known as the Historia Regum Britanniae, or The History of the Kings of Britain. This is frequently recommended to those who are just starting out in their investigation into the world of King Arthur. What makes this such a good starting point?For one thing, this is the earliest surviving source, and it gives a detailed overview of Arthurs whole career. Many subsequent sources are ultimately based on Geoffreys account. Furthermore, it is not overly long when considering just the Arthurian portion of the book. The Historia Regum Britanniae covers everything from the founding of Britain to more than a century after Arthurs death. Additionally, while it was originally written in Latin, modern translations make it easy to read. It is not written in a difficult poetic style like many of the other primary texts.2. King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, by Roger Lancelyn Green (1953)King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, by Roger Lancelyn Green, 1953. Source: Google BooksKing Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table is a modern retelling of the Arthurian legends. It is primarily based on Thomas Malorys Le Morte dArthur, but also draws from numerous earlier medieval accounts of King Arthur. Although originally intended for children, this has become a classic and is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to become familiar with the Arthurian legends. The intention of the author was to create a cohesive narrative of Arthurs career, in contrast to Malorys disjointed and difficult-to-follow text.What makes this book so useful is that it presents essentially all the most famous elements of the legends, many of which are missing from Geoffrey of Monmouths Historia Regum Britanniae. For instance, it includes aspects such as the Round Table, the Lady of the Lake, the Sword in the Stone, and Lancelot. As such, it provides an excellent, easy-to-read overview of the Arthurian legends. This makes it very useful for anyone who is generally unfamiliar with the legends and wants to read about them without the struggle of working through the primary medieval texts.3. The Age of Arthur, by John Morris (1973)The Age of Arthur, by John Morris, 1973. Source: San Francisco BooksThis next book is rather controversial. The Age of Arthur was written by the historian John Morris in 1973. This is not a book that provides an overview of the Arthurian legends. Rather, in this book, Morris outlined his arguments for the historical truth concerning various people and events during the murky period between 350 and 650 CE. His purpose was to review what was really happening during the period that led to the legends of Arthur. Morris accepted King Arthur as a historical figure and attempted to use available sources to reconstruct a picture of his historical career. He did the same for various other individuals, such as Maelgwn Gwynedd and Tewdrig of Gwent.Unfortunately, while becoming a very popular book among the casual Arthurian investigator, this book came under heavy criticism from Morris peers. It continues to be criticized to this day, although the reasons are arguably not as strong as they might first appear.A stained glass window depicting the Venerable Bede, at Gloucester Cathedral. Source: Wikimedia CommonsThere were two fundamental problems with The Age of Arthur that John Morris fellow historians highlighted. The first is that Morris was overly optimistic, almost to the point of gullibility, in accepting the claims of medieval texts. They argued that Morris lacked a critical eye, which led him to accept the historical accuracy of claims that had no solid basis. Secondly, Morris was criticised for sometimes just stating conclusions without backing them up.It is important to remember that The Age of Arthur was written with a relatively casual reader in mind. It was never intended as a scholarly publication. As it happens, several volumes of Arthurian Period Studies present what is essentially a scholarly version of large portions of The Age of Arthur. These volumes include extensive references to primary sources as well as detailed explanations of Morriss reasoning on various conclusions, including thoughtful arguments as to why he accepted certain sources as historically valuable. Therefore, while far from perfect, The Age of Arthur does present the reasoned conclusions of a professional historian of the period, albeit without all of his detailed reasoning.4. Arthurs Britain: History and Archaeology AD 367-634, by Leslie Alcock (1971)Arthurs Britain: History and Archaeology AD 367-634, by Leslie Alcock, 1971. Source: Good ReadsArthurs Britain: History and Archaeology AD 367-634 was written by Leslie Alcock, a historian and archaeologist, in 1971. In many respects, this is very similar to John Morriss The Age of Arthur, written around the same time. Alcocks book presents his conclusions regarding what was actually happening in Britain during the period between 367 and 634 CE. As an archaeologist, Alcock focuses on the archaeological record. Rather than examining the medieval literary sources and attempting to reconstruct the careers of various figures in that period, Alcock was more focused on what life was like. He did, nevertheless, make use of the literary sources as well.Unlike The Age of Arthur, Leslie Alcocks Arthurs Britain is not particularly easy to read. It is rather academic, which can make it difficult for the casual Arthur enthusiast. Still, for someone interested in learning in-depth information about Britain in the Arthurian period, this is a useful source.5. The World of King Arthur, by Christopher Snyder (2000)The World of King Arthur, by Christopher Snyder, 2000. Source: Good ReadsOf all the books mentioned here, this one is probably the single best source for discovering Arthurs world, as its very title suggests. The World of King Arthur was written by Christopher Snyder in 2000. Using both literary and archaeological sources, it examines the historical truth behind various aspects of the legends. Notably, Snyder does not present an argument for Arthurs existence. On the contrary, this book does not present the view that he was historical.However, the primary purpose of the book is not to examine what Arthurs Britain was really like. Throughout The World of King Arthur, Snyder delves into the Arthurian legends themselves and explains how they evolved over the centuries. He even examines how they are portrayed in modern media. Furthermore, what makes this book such a useful source is that it presents the information in an easily digestible manner. There are copious photos, illustrations, maps, and other visual aids. It is an excellent source for learning about the world of King Arthur and the Arthurian legends.6. The Reign of Arthur: From History to Legend, by Christopher Gidlow (2004)The Reign of Arthur: From History to Legend, by Christopher Gidlow, 2004. Source: Good ReadsWritten in 2004, Christopher Gidlows The Reign of Arthur: From History to Legend presents an excellent and intelligent case for the historicity of King Arthur himself. Gidlow focuses primarily on medieval literary evidence, making extensive use of Gildass 6th-century De Excidio. This book outlines in detail how Gildass account of Britain in the 6th century is not only compatible with the Arthurian legends but also supports their historicity in many respects. The world of 6th-century Britain that Gildas presents, according to Gidlow, is logically reconstructed in a way that matches the world of Arthur seen in the legends.Gidlow makes the argument that Arthurs historicity is not just defensible but genuinely the best supported conclusion in view of the evidence. For anyone interested in the case for a historical Arthur, this book is invaluable. It directly addresses many of the arguments against his existence and attempts to dismantle them.The Best Books for Learning About the World of King ArthurGallos, a statue of King Arthur at Tintagel Castle, by Rubin Eynon, 2016. Source: Wikimedia CommonsIn conclusion, these are some of the very best books that one could read to discover King Arthurs world. Geoffrey of Monmouths Historia Regum Britanniae provides an overview of Arthurs career as per the early legends. King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table by Roger Lancelyn Green provides readers with an understanding of the more developed version of the Arthurian legends in a simple, easy-to-read format.John Morriss book, The Age of Arthur, presents an extensive overview of the world of King Arthur, based on Morriss informed, though subjective, opinions. Then there is Leslie Alcocks Arthurs Britain: History and Archaeology AD 367-634, which looks at the archaeological evidence for what Britain was like during the Arthurian period. Christopher Snyders The World of King Arthur is surely the single best modern source for anyone interested in learning about the Arthurian legends themselves and how they evolved over the centuries. Finally, Christopher Gidlows The Reign of Arthur: From History to Legend presents an intelligent case for the existence of King Arthur.