A major new reference work on the legends of King Arthur has been published by Cambridge University Press, offering what scholars describe as the most comprehensive study yet of Arthurian literature and culture.
Titled The Cambridge History of Arthurian Literature and Culture, the project was co-edited by Raluca Radulescu, Professor of Medieval Literature and Director of the Centre for Arthurian Studiesat Bangor University. Published as part of the prestigious Cambridge History series, the work spans two volumes, approximately 1,500 pages, and 57 chapters.
The collection traces the development of Arthurian traditions from their origins in the early medieval period through to their modern appearances in literature, film, and digital media. Contributors examine the legend across multiple disciplines, including literature, history, politics, art, and media studies, while also exploring its influence across different regions of the world, from Europe to Africa, Australia, and South America.
According to the editors, this is the first large-scale history of Arthurian studies to cover every period from the early Middle Ages to the twenty-first century in a single integrated work. The Cambridge History series is widely regarded for producing authoritative scholarly references intended to shape research fields for decades.
Professor Raluca Radulescu – photo courtesy Bangor University
Professor Radulescu explained that the project had been years in the making. “I was delighted to be invited to co-edit this work back in 2019 and to shape its contents from the earliest stages to completion, from mapping the scope of the volumes to working closely with contributors over several years,” she said. “My experience of researching Arthurian studies over the last 25 years has truly found its fruition in this monumental publication, which is very much dedicated to the future of the field.”
Radulescu also pointed to her long involvement with the International Arthurian Society, including her work editing its journal and bibliography, as preparation for overseeing such an ambitious publication. She currently serves as the society’s elected international president for 2024–27.
“Writing the introductions to both volumes also offered an opportunity to reflect on how Arthurian traditions have developed and how they continue to shape cultural, literary and political thought from the medieval period to the present day,” she added.
The publication also highlights Bangor University’s continuing role in Arthurian scholarship. The university is home to the Centre for Arthurian Studies and recently launched the EUARTHURS project — European Arthurs, Medieval to Modern — a multinational doctoral network led by Radulescu and involving scholars across six European countries.
You can learn more about The Cambridge History of Arthurian Literature and Culture from the publisher’s website
A major new reference work on the legends of King Arthur has been published by Cambridge University Press, offering what scholars describe as the most comprehensive study yet of Arthurian literature and culture.
Titled The Cambridge History of Arthurian Literature and Culture, the project was co-edited by Raluca Radulescu, Professor of Medieval Literature and Director of the Centre for Arthurian Studies at Bangor University. Published as part of the prestigious Cambridge History series, the work spans two volumes, approximately 1,500 pages, and 57 chapters.
The collection traces the development of Arthurian traditions from their origins in the early medieval period through to their modern appearances in literature, film, and digital media. Contributors examine the legend across multiple disciplines, including literature, history, politics, art, and media studies, while also exploring its influence across different regions of the world, from Europe to Africa, Australia, and South America.
According to the editors, this is the first large-scale history of Arthurian studies to cover every period from the early Middle Ages to the twenty-first century in a single integrated work. The Cambridge History series is widely regarded for producing authoritative scholarly references intended to shape research fields for decades.
Professor Radulescu explained that the project had been years in the making. “I was delighted to be invited to co-edit this work back in 2019 and to shape its contents from the earliest stages to completion, from mapping the scope of the volumes to working closely with contributors over several years,” she said. “My experience of researching Arthurian studies over the last 25 years has truly found its fruition in this monumental publication, which is very much dedicated to the future of the field.”
Radulescu also pointed to her long involvement with the International Arthurian Society, including her work editing its journal and bibliography, as preparation for overseeing such an ambitious publication. She currently serves as the society’s elected international president for 2024–27.
“Writing the introductions to both volumes also offered an opportunity to reflect on how Arthurian traditions have developed and how they continue to shape cultural, literary and political thought from the medieval period to the present day,” she added.
The publication also highlights Bangor University’s continuing role in Arthurian scholarship. The university is home to the Centre for Arthurian Studies and recently launched the EUARTHURS project — European Arthurs, Medieval to Modern — a multinational doctoral network led by Radulescu and involving scholars across six European countries.
You can learn more about The Cambridge History of Arthurian Literature and Culture from the publisher’s website
You can also buy the books from Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
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