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MA in Arthurian Literature

Bangor University's MA in Arthurian literature, the only one of its kind in the world, explores insular (Britain and Ireland) and Continental medieval traditions of Arthurian writing from the inception of the legend (perhaps as early as the 6th century) to the present day. Students may engage in deep comparative study of Latin, Welsh, Irish, Breton and English/French texts, with the additional advantage of studying other linguistic traditions, if necessary in modern English translation.
Latest projects, posts, articles, interviews, and events featuring our members and all things Arthurian.
Lectures from the 2020 - 2021 series organised by the Centre for Arthurian Studies covering topics pertaining to Arthurian and Celtic traditions, with a focus on the relevance of legends and their retellings both in and outside their original Welsh contexts. The crossing of borders (geographically, linguistically, and in time periods) is key to our understanding of the impact of Arthurian stories.
Members of the Centre
Current Members
External Board
Emeritus Director of the Rossel Hope Robbins Library and the Koller-Collins Graduate English Center, University of Rochester
Dr. Roger Simpson (1938-2022)

It is with great sadness that we report the recent death of Dr. Roger Simpson, a member of the British Branch of the International Arthurian Society, but a great supporter and friend of the North American Branch and a frequent contributor to Arthuriana as an author and as a submissions and book reviewer. Roger had a truly amazing academic career. After earning a BA in English Language and Literature in 1960 from Wadham College, Oxford, he completed a Diploma in Education at Oxford two years later. From 1962-1963, he was Assistant English Master at Verdin Grammar School in England. From 1963-1965, he was Senior English Master at Old Kampala Senior Secondary School in Uganda. From 1965-1966, he returned to England and served as Assistant English Master at Aylesbury Girls High School. From 1966-1968, he was Senior English Master at Momenshahi Cadet College in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). From 1969-1982, he was Senior Lecturer and Head of English at Gulf Polytechnic in Bahrain. He returned to England in 1982 to take up a position at the University of East Anglia in Norwich where he taught and remained until 2003. In 1988, he completed his doctorate at the University of East Anglia with a thesis on The Arthurian Revival and Tennyson, 1800-1849. In 1998, he was a visiting scholar at the National Museum of Ethnography in Osaka, Japan. Roger authored two important Arthurian monographs: Camelot Regained: The Arthurian Revival and Tennyson, 1800-1849 (1990) and Radio Camelot: Arthurian Legends on the BBC, 1922-2005 (2008). His other publications include dozens of essays and reviews on multiple aspects of Arthuriana. Roger was a scholar’s scholar who took immense joy in the painstaking work of unearthing forgotten Arthurian works and authors. And he was able to present his research in a comprehensive and compelling way and to infect others with his enthusiasm for his discoveries. And, as his two books and many essays attest, he was interested in, and made contributions to, the study of Arthuriana in both “high” and popular culture. But, whether responding to questions at a conference from an established colleague or from beginning graduate students, Roger was always the model of earnestness, grace and courtesy. He was the gentlest of gentlemen. To those who knew him, he was a convivial colleague, a charming host, and the most generous of scholars. Like Chaucer’s Clerk, gladly did he learn and gladly teach. Survivors include his wife, Paddy, and their son, Dr St John Simpson, Assistant Keeper for Iran, Central Asia and Arabia at the British Museum.
Alan Lupack, Director Emeritus, The Robbins Library, University of Rochester
Barbara Tepa Lupack, Rochester, New York
Kevin J. Harty, Professor of English, La Salle University
Associate Members
University of Wisconsin, Madison
East Tennessee State University
Acadia University
Sam Houston State University
De Montfort University
Keio University
Independent Scholar
Independent Scholar
Boydell & Brewer
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Halmstad University, Sweden, Visiting Research Fellow 2018
Fellows
Brno University
Bangor Alumna and Bristol University, Fellow of the Stephen Colclough Centre for the History and Cultures of the Book
Halmstad University, Sweden, Visiting Research Fellow 2018
University Research Fellow 2018
Teaching Staff on the MA in Arthurian Literature
Our Growing Research Community: Postgraduate, Alumni, Early Career Fellows and Associate Members of the Centre
3rd year PhD, in co-tutelle Bangor University-Univ. of Lorraine
2nd year PhD, Bangor University
PhD candidate - post-viva corrections stage
PhD candidate - post-viva corrections stage
Bangor PhD 2014, Lecturer at the University of Latvia
MA alumnus 2021
MA alumnus 2021
MA alumna 2021
Jessika Brandon
Merlynn Spencer
Partners
History of the Collections

Bangor University Library's Arthurian and Celtic studies collections have their inception at the time the University Library was founded in 1884, when donations were made by local supporters as well as by scholars and members of staff.
Recently Flintshire County Libraries has kindly donated its Arthurian Collection to Bangor University; where it now is being curated, preserved and managed by the Library and Archives Service. The collection, which is of major interest to scholars and general readers, was originally donated to Flintshire County Libraries in 1952 by E. R. Harries, a former librarian of the county. Flintshire and Clwyd library services, then added further stock. It now contains over 2,000 items of interest to scholars and general readers alike. This collection enhances Bangor's existing collection, in particular through the addition of further rare books. Scholars who would have previously had to travel to both Mold and Bangor will now find these resources in the same location.
The arrival of the Flintshire Harries Arthurian collection, a predominantly, though not exclusively English-language collection of post-medieval rare books and criticism, predominantly on English-language legends, was celebrated with a launch in April 2015, including a public lecture given by the late Dr Roger Simpson and an exhibition of rare books from the Bangor and Flintshire Harries collections, curated by Prof. Raluca Radulescu and Shan Robinson.
Get Involved with the Centre for Arthurian Studies

There are many ways to get involved with the Centre for Arthurian Studies at Bangor University!
We recognise that many individuals and organisations external to the Centre for Arthurian Studies (CAS) share an interest in progressing our intellectual aims and aspirations. Partnership and collaboration with these colleagues and stakeholders is fundamental to our development. We, therefore, offer Associate Membership and Fellowship status as forms of affiliation for both internal and external individuals and organisations who actively support and contribute towards our long-term objectives. We also offer Fellowships to support relevant shorter-term projects.
Associate Membership and Fellowships are offered as means of enhancing our academic reach and collaborative capacity, both within Bangor University and, importantly, through engagement with a network of external partners in other research organisations and sectors (such as cultural heritage and archives). Our Associates and Fellows will play an important role in helping us to embed the reach of the Centre throughout Wales, and assist in demonstrating the international relevance of our work.
Renewable annually, this status offers longer-term affiliation to the Centre. Associate membership is available for individuals and organisations. Individual associate members enjoy library card and email privileges, for projects which benefit the collections and research culture of the Centre. Associate membership is typically bestowed on scholars who spend longer periods at the Centre (e.g., a sabbatical) or local independent scholars. The status is not usually granted in the absence of evidence of scholarly engagement. Individual Associate Members will give a scholarly talk from their research project during term time as part of the Centre's research seminar series, and thus contribute to and enhance the research culture of the Centre.
Short-term fellowships, lasting from a fortnight to a semester, bring the same rights as those of Associate Member, provided access to a library card and email are necessary. Fellowships are intended to assist with discrete research projects related to the Centre's collections. Holders of Fellowships will write a blog or short post on the topic of the research project, to be posted on the Centre’s website, and they will participate, if appropriate, in the activities of the Centre.
Individuals and organisations seeking to apply for Associate status must be able to demonstrate an active contribution towards the fulfilment of CAS’s aims and aspirations:
For individuals this can be in the form of research activity; peer-reviewed publications; HE-level teaching; postgraduate supervision; collection knowledge; and/or curatorial expertise in areas relating to CAS’s intellectual identity.*
For organisations, societies and groups this can be in the form of organisational priorities; research activity; and/or curatorial expertise in areas relating to CAS’s identity. Such organisations may include archives; cultural heritage organisations; research centres and other academic entities; history/heritage societies and community groups.
* All doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, honorary research fellows, visiting professors and professional archivists appointed to work on projects originating from CAS are granted automatic membership.
Donations (in the form of financial support towards the funding of visiting fellowships for independent scholars or postgraduate students, or the purchase of scholarly books) are warmly invited from supporters of the Centre.
Contributions will enable Arthurian scholarship to thrive now and in the future, and enrich this unique resource for Arthurian studies in the world.
Please contact Professor RalucaRadulescu to discuss your gift:
Email: r.radulescu@bangor.ac.uk
Phone: +44 (0) 1248 38 2110
Post: Centre for Arthurian Studies, Bangor University, College Road, Bangor, LL57 2DG
If you are interested in our collections, you can arrange a visit by prior appointment by contacting us directly.
arthur@bangor.ac.uk