Bangor expert contributes to Arthurian stamp launch

The enduring popularity of the Arthurian legends has been underlined yet again by the new publication of a set of stamps depicting Arthurian legends and characters by the Royal Mail.

The new stamps have designs commissioned from artist Jaime Jones, and the accompanying text is by Bangor University Arthurian expert, Professor Raluca Radulescu.

This new commission of a series of collectible stamps provides ample opportunity to explore the pan-European appeal of the legends in the Middle Ages according to Professor Radulescu.

From the Welsh origins of the Celtic Arthur to the modern interpretations (last year’s Netflix series Cursed, or the forthcoming Sir Gawain and the Green Knight movie, starring Dev Patel), legends continue to inspire authors across the world.

Guinevere, Merlin, the Knights of the Round Table, Sir Lancelot defeating the dragon and Sir Galahad encountering the Holy Grail are all depicted on the stamps.

Professor Raluca Radulescu of the University’s School of Languages, Literatures & Linguistics said:

“Hardly a year goes by without a reworking of the Arthurian legends in a new film or television series.

I am delighted to have contributed the framing introduction to this series of stamps, and the accompanying article in the Royal Mail Yearbook, which will introduce the general public to the multilingual, multi-racial medieval stories, and their importance in both politics and culture across the Middle Ages and beyond’.

A leading international expert on Arthurian Literature, Professor Raluca Radulescu leads the world’s only MA course in Arthurian Studies.

Publication date: 16 March 2021