Galahad and the Grail: Malcolm Guite Is on a Quest

Today’s guest on Mythmakers is the wonderful Malcolm Guite—poet, priest, literary critic, and so much more. He had been lured on a quest to tell his Arthurian epic in ballad form and has published the first volume, Galahad and the Grail, which takes us straight to the heart of the matter of Arthur.

Listen as he joins Julia Golding to discuss how and why he set out on this journey, his plans moving forward, and the authors who have accompanied and inspired him along the way as he seeks to revive this timeless cycle of stories for our current age. Stay tuned to hear where you might best embark on your own Grail quest in other fantasy worlds—and where it might not go quite to plan.

Follow along with more of Malcolm’s riveting adventures over at his YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/@malcolmguitespell?si=o-Tw3IOrr2CKWIWp and learn more about his works at https://malcolmguite.wordpress.com/ 

(00:00) Introduction to Malcolm Guite and Galahad and the Grail
(01:23) How Arthur Called Malcolm to “Take Up the Tale”
(04:36) The Ballad Tradition and the Influence of Chesterton
(05:34) Why Malcolm Chose Poetry for an Arthurian Epic
(10:48) Literary Echoes, Influence, and Creative Collaboration
(15:57) Dandrene, Lucy, and the Spiritual Imagination of C.S. Lewis
(20:56) Galahad, Jeopardy, and the Challenge of the Perfect Knight
(26:27) The Grail, Communion, and Charles Williams’ Influence
(31:28) Why the Ballad Form Works for Enchantment
(35:23) Dandrene, Women’s Wisdom, and Creation as God’s Word
(38:40) Why the Epic Begins with the Grail Quest
(41:20) What Comes Next in Malcolm’s Arthurian Cycle
(43:33) Where Else Could a Grail Quest Belong?
(48:16) Where to Find Galahad and the Grail
(49:23) Looking Ahead to The Coming of Arthur and Future Volumes

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Mythmakers is the podcast for fantasy fans and creatives, brought to you by the Oxford Centre for Fantasy. In each episode, we embark on an exploration of the world of fantasy—both classic and contemporary. From the stories behind your favourite series to expert tips for aspiring writers, we dive into books, films, TV shows, and the creative process behind them.

Brought to you from the heart of Oxford—home to literary greats like J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Lewis Carroll—we continue the storytelling tradition in the very city where Narnia, Middle-earth, and even Wonderland took shape drawing on the city’s magical blend of ancient buildings, labyrinthine libraries, and gentle river meadows.

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