Sir Gawain

CELTIC STUDIES / MYTHOLOGY Sir Gawain, the nephew of King Arthur, was once the most important knight at Arthur's court, a shining example of all that was best in chivalry. He even outranked the famous Lancelot. Yet as the popularity of the Arthurian romances grew, the character of Gawain became increasingly diminished in popular literature. After more than twenty years of research, John Matthews, one of the world's leading scholar's of Arthurian mythology, now restores a lost piece of the great Arthurian tapestry. Matthews explores the phenomenon that influenced the recasting of Gawain from hero to womanizing villain, providing a scholarly context through which Gawain's role as the representative and servant of the Goddess upon Earth--the real Green Knight of Camelot and Sovereignty's Champion--may be restored. In addition, the author presents a unique view of the mythology of Britain and its connections with the historical changes that took place over many hundreds of years in the religious and mystical traditions of the country. JOHN MATTHEWS has authored over sixty books, including The Grail: Quest for Eternal Life, The Encyclopaedia of Celtic Wisdom, and Taliesin: The Last Celtic Shaman. A foremost expert in the Arthurian legends and esoteric wisdom of the Celtic traditions, he teaches and lectures around the world. He resides with his wife, Caitlin, in Oxford, England.