Professor publishes landmark Cambridge History of Arthurian Literature and Culture

Raluca Radulescu, Professor of medieval literature and Director of the Centre for Arthurian Studies, has co-edited a major new scholarly work, The Cambridge History of Arthurian Literature and Culture (CHALC), published by Cambridge University Press as part of its prestigious Cambridge History series.

Spanning two volumes, around 1,500 pages and 57 chapters, CHALC offers the most comprehensive account to date of the Arthurian legend, one of the most influential narratives in Western culture. The collection traces the development of Arthurian traditions from the fifth century to the present day, moving from the historical Arthur and medieval literature to modern afterlives in film, literature and digital media. It brings together world‑leading scholars to explore the legend across languages, cultures and disciplines, including literature, history, art, politics and media, with global perspectives from Europe to Australia, Africa and South America.

The Cambridge History series is widely recognised for publishing authoritative reference works intended to shape a field for generations. CHALC is the first history of Arthurian studies to cover all periods from the early Middle Ages to the 21st century in a single, integrated project.

Two book covers from “The Cambridge History of Arthurian Literature and Culture.” Volume I, “Medieval Arthurian Literatures and Cultures,” and Volume II, “Arthurian Literatures and Cultures: 1500 to the Present,” both edited by Raluca L. Radulescu and Andrew Lynch, with teal covers and black title panels. — The Cambridge History of Arthurian Literature and Culture

Raluca said, “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. 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.

“Having edited the Journal of the International Arthurian Society and its annual bibliography, and providing my academic service to the society in different roles, most recently as its elected international president (2024-27), prepared me well for the scale and ambition of this project.

“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.”

The publication builds on the University’s long-standing strength in this area, including the Centre for Arthurian Studies, its vibrant postgraduate community, and the new MSCA Doctoral Network project, EUARTHURS: European Arthurs, Medieval to Modern, led by Prof. Radulescu with a team of scholars across 6 European countries.

The online launch of The Cambridge History of Arthurian Literature and Culture will took place on Friday, 24 April via Microsoft Teams. The event featured a roundtable discussion with contributors and editors, including Emeritus Professor P. J. C. Field (Bangor University), Emeritus Professor James Simpson (Harvard University), and Emeritus Professor Andrew Lynch (University of Western Australia and former president of the International Arthurian Society).