A critical edition based on the eight known First Variant manuscripts, the prime source of Wace’s Roman de Brut. Geoffrey’s “history’ of the British from their first colonisation of the island under Brutus to the late 7th century AD was one of the most influential works of the 12th century, and introduced to a wider audience central figures in English literature, including King Arthur and King Lear. "Wright’s long introduction is a model of meticulousness and thoroughness…a fine study and edition…In a previous review I called Wright’s edition of the vulgate text ”“an auspicious beginning” to a series that promised to become the standard scholarly treatment of Geoffrey’s Historia…That promise is being kept.‘ Lister M. Matheson, SPECULUM April 1991 A critical edition based on the eight known First Variant manuscripts, the prime source of Wace’s Roman de Brut. Geoffrey’s “history’ of theBritish from thier first colonisation of the island under Brutus to the late 7th century AD was one of the most influential works of the 12th century, and introduced to a wider audience central figures in English literature, including King Arthur and King Lear.