RAR #279: Baptizing the Imagination with Malcolm Guite

From Read-Aloud Revival ® by Sarah Mackenzie

April 16, 2026 · 49 min

About this episode

Malcolm Guite discusses his poetic retelling of King Arthur stories and the inspiration behind his work.

Join us for RAR's Summer Adventure . What is your calling in life? For poet, songwriter, and academic, Malcolm Guite, it’s unequivocally clear–to be a storyteller. Today on the podcast Audrey and I chat with Malcolm about the first volume in his new retelling of the classic King Arthur stories, Galahad and the Grail, illustrated by the incredible Stephen Crotts and published by our friends over at Rabbit Room Press. Not only is Malcolm adapting the legends of King Arthur, he’s doing it in poetic ballad form, which means they are basically designed to be read aloud. In our conversation, he tells us about the epic journey he and his publisher and illustrator undertook to visit sites connected to the Arthurian legends, how a childhood surrounded by books and stories led him to his lifelong love and study of literature and poetry, and the impact his own mother had on his journey to becoming a poet and storyteller. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why Malcolm chose to write this story in ballad form How woodland walks inspire Malcolm’s writing and why he knew it was time to “take up the tale” What elements and parallels of Biblical stories Malcolm wanted to restore that have often been…

People in this episode

Host: Sarah Mackenzie

Guest: Malcolm Guite

Topics covered

storytelling
poetry
Arthurian legends
literature
imagination

Keywords

Malcolm Guite
King Arthur
poetry
storytelling
Galahad and the Grail

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Rabbit Room Press

Books & works: Galahad and the Grail, King Arthur