Ep. 614: A Conversation with Malcolm Guite
If you’ve spent much time in the worlds of poetry, faith, or the imagination, you’ve almost certainly encountered the work of Malcolm Guite. He’s one of those rare figures who moves comfortably between the academy, the church, and the arts. Guite is an Anglican priest, acclaimed poet, singer-songwriter, and Life Fellow of Girton College, where he served as chaplain for seventeen years.”
Over the years, he has become one of today’s most influential voices exploring the intersection of literature, beauty, and Christian faith through books such as Faith, Hope and Poetry, Lifting the Veil, Mariner, and his beloved collections of sonnets inspired by the church year.
His newest work is Galahad and the Holy Grail, a fresh retelling of one of the greatest stories in the Arthurian tradition. Rather than simply retelling an old legend, Guite invites readers into a richly imagined spiritual journey that explores courage, purity, sacrifice, and the deep human longing for God. Written in narrative verse, the book combines the musicality of poetry with the momentum of an epic adventure, making an ancient story feel remarkably fresh and relevant for modern readers.
One of the delights of this project is that Galahad and the Holy Grail isn’t confined to the printed page. Guite has also taken the work on the road, performing it before live audiences in churches, theaters, and literary festivals. Those performances blend storytelling, dramatic reading, and music in a way that recalls the medieval tradition of poems being heard as well as read. Audience response has been enthusiastic, with many listeners discovering that the oral performance brings new depth and emotion to the story.
Today we’ll talk with Malcolm Guite about the enduring power of the Grail legend, why ancient stories still matter, how poetry helps us recover wonder, and what Galahad’s quest can teach us about our own search for truth, beauty, and grace. I think you’ll enjoy this conversation.
The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. I’m your host, Warren Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.
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