Welcome to the Mythical Britain Blog

Written by Michael Smith, the Mythical Britain Blog provides detailed insights 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.

Common People in William of Palerne?

William of Palerne (The Romance of William and the Werewolf), ca. 1350, features a variety of characters from working life who are often ignored in medieval romance. But who were these 'common people' and why does the scribe feature them?

Michael Smith

5 days ago6 min read

Monk and two werewolves in a medieval manuscript

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

linocut image of Sir Gawain riding his horse Gringolet

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

Church and detached belfry at Richard's Castle, Herefordshire

A history and description of Richard’s Castle, Herefordshire

Named after its original founder, Richard Fitz Scrob, the village of Richard's Castle in Herefordshire is home to one of the few motte and bailey castles to be built in Britain prior to the Norman Conquest. The associated church of St Bartholomew also contains elements from the Norman period.

Michael Smith

Sep 146 min read

The historic city mounds at Moundville, Alabama

Active between ca. 1050 and 1450, the great mounds and palisaded settlement at Moundville, Alabama, offer a remarkable contrast to contemporary life in medieval Europe.

Michael Smith

Jul 123 min read

Medieval graffiti at Ashwell church in Hertfordshire

Medieval graffiti in Hertfordshire churches

Medieval graffiti provides a fascinating insight into life six centuries ago. Here, we look at six churches to learn about their secrets

Michael Smith

Mar 145 min read

Medieval men and women working in the field at harvest time, from the Luttrell Psalter

Medieval Women exhibition at the British Library

A review of the British Library's recent and brilliant exhibition, Medieval Women: In Their Own Words. An exhibition well worth seeing!

Michael Smith

Mar 146 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

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

Castles and Landscapes – Hautdesert Castle in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Michael Smith discusses the Gawain-poet's castle Hautdesert, showing how its place in the landscape reflected the zeitgeist of his time.

Michael Smith

Dec 22, 20236 min read

Nobut an old Cave – the power and meaning of the Green Chapel in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

The poet in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight calls the Green Chapel 'nobot an olde cave' with huge understatement. It was a house of horror.

Michael Smith

Nov 23, 20235 min read

Sueno's Stone - an astonishing Pictish monument to battle at Forres in Moray, Scotland

A history and description of Sueno's Stone, an astonishing Pictish monument to battle still in its original location at Forres in Scotland.

Michael Smith, Mythical Britain

Aug 15, 20214 min read

The motorway motte - Lilbourne castle and mediaeval village, Northamptonshire

A description of the fascinating early mediaeval motte and bailey, fishponds, village earthworks and church at Lilbourne, Northamptonshire

Michael Smith, Author, Translator, Printmaker

Jul 2, 20214 min read

The Sheela Na Gig sculpture and St Christopher wall paintings at Oaksey in Wiltshire, England

A few years ago, pre lockdown, I took the opportunity to turn off the M4 and track down an astonishing mediaeval sheela na gig sculpture...

Michael Smith

May 8, 20213 min read