Christopher Gidlow

Christopher Gidlow is an author and historian. A life-long enthusiast for the Arthurian legends, Christopher describes being told by his primary teacher that they might have a basis in fact as ‘like learning there really was a magic wardrobe with talking animals on the other side!’ He has been investigating the history of Dark Age Britain ever since. He is the author of ‘The Reign of Arthur – from History to Legend’ and ‘Revealing King Arthur – Swords, Stones and digging for Camelot’. The first book concentrates on the written sources, while ‘Revealing King Arthur’ looks at the archaeological evidence and the ways archaeologists have responded to potential links to the legends. He is co-author, with Stuart Laycock, of 'King Arthur's Country', which presents a synthesis of the historical and archaeological material, incorporating new discoveries. He also wrote ’Life in A Tudor Palace’, which takes the reader through the daily routine of Henry VIII’s great houses.

Christopher attended Oriel College Oxford, where he specialised in Medieval history. His thesis was on the Papal call for a crusade against the Ottoman Turks after the fall of Constantinople in 1453. He went on to receive an MA in Archaeology and Heritage from Leicester University. His dissertation ‘Digging for Myths’ looked at attempts to link legends to archaeology.

He worked for over twenty years as the Live Interpretation Manager of Historic Royal Palaces. He brought history to life at the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace and the Banqueting House Whitehall. He currently teaches History.

As 'Chris Gidlow', he has just published 'Arthur the Soldier', Book One of 'The Ruin of Britain', a historical novel set in the Sixth Century. He also writes for the RPG 'Runequest: Roleplaying in Glorantha'.

Christopher lives in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, with his wife and three children.