William and the Werewolf

A magical, long-forgotten masterpiece, The Romance of William and the Werewolf - or William of Palerne - was originally translated from French and then converted into an alliterative Middle English romance by an obscure Gloucestershire scribe in c. 1350. It is a story of how two princes overcome the wicked deeds of family members to reclaim their inheritance and build a society based on tolerance and equality. Until now, it has never been translated effectively into modern English.

Like many medieval romances, it is a multi-layered tale. Written over 600 years ago it has timeless messages about poverty, justice, exile and ’otherness’; its themes of inheritance, the freedom of women, fairness and forgiveness, familial responsibility and social class, speak to us just as clearly today, and challenge us to reflect upon today’s class-driven politics and the corruption, entitlement and indifference which underlie it.

As with Michael Smith’s other translations - Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and King Arthur’s Death - The Romance of William and the Werewolf will feature a detailed historical introduction, a comprehensive glossary and notes, and Michael’s own rich and beautiful linocut illustrations.

Michael Smith comes from Cheshire and read history at the University of York, specialising in English and European mediaeval history. In later years, he studied as a printmaker at the Curwen Print Study Centre near Cambridge. He lives in Ware, Hertfordshire.