A wise and valiant ruler, King Arthur was the lord and protector of England, his exploits immortalized in poems, art, and movies. But did he even exist? Opinions on who Arthur might have been and what he represents have shifted over the course of 1300 years, states Nick Higham in this compact biography, possibly revealing more about us than about Arthur. Scouring literary sources, genealogies, and historical records, Higham seeks the source of the King Arthur story, and traces how the concept of "the once and future king" died out in the medieval era, only to steadily gain in popularity and inspirational value in the 20th century.