Despite recent interpretations giving Arthur English, French or cockney accents, a new academic book launched at Bangor University, firmly plants him in the Celtic lands and Celtic languages.

Arthur in the Celtic Languages, The Arthurian Legend in Celtic Literatures and Traditions, is published by the University of Wales Press and edited by Ceridwen Lloyd-Morgan, an Honorary Research Fellow at Bangor University, and Erich Poppe, formerly professor of Celtic studies at the University of Marburg. This is the first volume to present a comprehensive authoritative survey of Arthurian literature and traditions in the Celtic languages of Welsh, Cornish, Breton, Irish and Scottish Gaelic.

A well-attended launch was hosted by Bangor University’s Centre for Arthurian Studies, a hub for international research in Arthurian Studies, and follows a symposium on the same topic held at the university last year.

Prof Raluca Radulescu, director of the centre commented: “This is a book that will change thinking on this topic for a generation; no such volume has ever tackled all medieval and modern retellings of Arthurian legends in all the Celtic languages. The chapters tackle the most recent scholarly debates on the topic, and open up new avenues for research in Celtic Arthurian studies.

“That’s why we were particularly delighted to host the launch of this important volume.”

Dr Aled Llion Jones, of Bangor’s School of Welsh and Celtic Studies added: “This new book gives us a unique opportunity to see how these important early Welsh legends became the currency of all the Celtic languages.”

Also taking part in the launch were Prof Sioned Davies of Cardiff University, and Prof Erich Poppe.

Bangor University has a long-standing link to Arthurian studies in the Celtic languages, and offers rare postgraduate degree opportunities to study world-wide Arthurian literature.