In the past month, I found myself ricocheting between two conflicting visions of virtue.
On the one hand, Malcolm Guite’s astonishing and luminous poem Galahad and the Grail (2026), which takes us into the heart of the Arthurian quest for life at its fullest and purest. ["Arthurian" refers to anything connected to the legends of King Arthur.]
Here’s one of the least wholesome and most shocking experiences in 21st century life: one is scrolling unknowingly, perhaps even unthinkingly, on one’s phone, and suddenly sees an act of murderous violence as a video plays automatically.
Particularly in the last few weeks, with footage of the murder of Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, North Carolina, recently released; and then with the assassination of Charlie Kirk - political activist and committed Christian - while speaking at a campus event in Utah. We may be an ocean away, but we're connected enough for these tragedies to feature in our cultural conversation, not least when they are played and replayed on our screens.
Galahad and the Grail - What is 'virtue'?
In the past month, I found myself ricocheting between two conflicting visions of virtue.
On the one hand, Malcolm Guite’s astonishing and luminous poem Galahad and the Grail (2026), which takes us into the heart of the Arthurian quest for life at its fullest and purest. ["Arthurian" refers to anything connected to the legends of King Arthur.]