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Welcome to the Mythical Britain Blog
Written by Michael Smith, the Mythical Britain Blog provides a detailed insight into a range of historical and literary topics including Middle English poetry, medieval castles and churches, Arthurian romance, historical geography, prehistoric sites, and historiography. The blog also reviews books, film and theatrical performances of relevance.
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Bisclavret the werewolf
The lais of Bisclavret, a poem by Marie de France about a knight condemned to roam abroad as a werewolf, is remarkable for what it tells us about twelfth century morality and how men and women were treated differently. This articles summarises the story and reflects upon its meaning.
Michael Smith
Nov 118 min read
The haunting literary landscape of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
The literary landscape of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a powerful evocation of a magical possibility existing at the fringes of our known imagination. How does the poet evoke this?
Michael Smith
Nov 38 min read
The Alliterative Revival - lessons from a time of tyranny which still hold true today
The poems of the Alliterative Revival may date from the fourteenth century but their content has much to tell us about the need for good government today - and how to avoid the tyranny of terrible leaders we are starting to see.
Michael Smith
Oct 269 min read
Overal enker-grene – the symbolism of the colour green in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
The symbolism of the colour green in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight has often been attributed to the supernatural. But is there a simpler reason behind the poet's choice, one based on narrative technique and audience expectation?
Michael Smith
Sep 297 min read
The medieval brass to John and Alice Wilcotes, St Michael and All Angels, Great Tew, Oxfordshire
The church of St Michael and All Angels contains a wealth of architectural wonders and historic features. The brass to Sir John and Alice Wilcotes is certainly amongst them and is a particularly fine example of its type.
Michael Smith
Sep 177 min read
The marvellous medieval monuments at St Mary the Virgin church, Dodford, Northamptonshire
The church of St Mary the Virgin at Dodford in Northamptonshire has a rich collection of medieval effigies and monuments spanning three centuries. A visit is highly recommended.
Michael Smith
May 154 min read
Knights and their ladies - some medieval monumental brasses in England
Monumental brasses in English churches provide a fascinating insight into society, fashion and aesthetics. In this post we look at a variety of brasses from Essex, Hertfordshire and Northamptonshire, dating from between 1350 and 1580.
Michael Smith
May 136 min read
Sir Gawain graphic novel by John Reppion and Mark Penman
Michael Smith reviews an astonishing graphic novel version of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by John Reppion and Mark Penman.
Michael Smith
Jan 247 min read
A new complete English translation of William of Palerne
An explanation of the translation approach undertaken to create the first ever alliterative edition of William of Palerne in modern English.
Michael Smith
Jan 35 min read
Some hidden Christmas messages in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
The message of Christmas which emerges from an alternative reading of the Middle English masterpiece, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
Michael Smith
Dec 2, 202412 min read
The making of a book - the Romance of William and the Werewolf (William of Palerne), its creation and production
How a fourteenth-century alliterative romance has come alive once more, richly illustrated with linocut prints.
Michael Smith
Nov 30, 20244 min read
The Journey of Sir Gawain - a new linocut print inspired by Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Michael Smith reveals the processes involved in the making his latest linocut of Sir Gawain as he ventures in search of the Green Knight.
Michael Smith
Nov 29, 20244 min read
Pleshey and Great Canfield Castles – Two Norman Mottes in Essex
A detailed look at two magnificent Norman motte-and-bailey castles in Essex: Great Canfield and Pleshey. Both are well worth the trip to see
Michael Smith, Mythical Britain
May 25, 20205 min read
The Brereton Tomb, St Oswald's Church, Malpas, Cheshire
A detailed look at the magnificent tomb of Sir Randal and Lady Eleanor Brereton at Malpas, Cheshire. A fine example of Chellaston work.
Michael Smith
Feb 14, 20206 min read
Book Review: The Castle at War in Medieval England and Wales
Dr Dan Spencer's book on the Medieval castles is a valuable and accessible guide to castles - not what they are but where they appear in
Michael Smith, Author, Translator, Printmaker
Feb 19, 20195 min read
The Battle of Agincourt, 1415
An overview of the revolutionary tactics used by Henry V at the Battle of Agincourt 1415.
Michael Smith, Author, Translator, Printmaker
Oct 24, 20184 min read
The historic landscape at Castle Bytham in Lincolnshire
A description of the astonishing motte and bailey castle at Castle Bytham, Lincolnshire, with its historic earthworks and man-made landscape
Michael Smith, printmaker, Mythical Britain
Aug 12, 20183 min read
The Mediaeval Graffiti at Anstey, Hertfordshire
Learn about the fabulous mediaeval graffiti at Anstey in Hertfordshire, including shields, helmets, writing and more.
Michael Smith, printmaker, Mythical Britain
May 23, 20183 min read
Creating a linocut print of Sir Hugh Calveley
How I made and printed a four-colour linocut of the Cheshire Knight, Sir Hugh Calveley. Michael Smith, Mythical Britain
Michael Smith, Mythical Britain
Nov 25, 20172 min read
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