![]() ![]() Geoffrey gallops swiftly through approximately 1,000 years of rulers, identifying succession and sharing anecdotes that lend authenticity and interest to the narrative. Part 2 covers the centuries between Britain’s founding and the Romans’ arrival. References to the Britons’ connection to Troy and Rome will recur throughout the text, implying their equal status to their Roman conquerors. Brutus’ genealogy and journey cement him as a figure comparable to ancient epic heroes and an heir to the Trojan legacy that links him to Rome. Brutus is exiled from his home, endures a period of wandering-during which time he liberates Trojans who have been enslaved by the victorious Greeks-and receives a prophecy to travel to an uninhabited island that will become Britain. Part 1 concerns Britain’s founding by the great-grandson of Aeneas, who founded Rome after fleeing the fall of Troy. ![]() The book begins with a dedication in which Geoffrey observes the conventions of the time by praising his patrons and expressing hope that his meager skills will be up to the task set before him. Noting that medieval divisions of the text were arbitrary, Thorpe divides the work into nine sections, including a dedication and eight parts titled by topic. This guide refers to the Penguin Classics edition translated by Lewis Thorpe. ![]()
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