YHC professor writes textbook on King Arthur
Young Harris, GA (04/24/2026) — Young Harris College's Dr. Daniel Helbert, assistant professor of English, wrote and recently published a textbook on the history of King Arthur, titled Arthur Between England and Wales: The Borderland, the Marches, and the Medieval Matter of Britain.
Published in January, the text explores the development of the Arthurian legend, focusing on the Anglo-Welsh borderlands.
"In literature, King Arthur is one of the most important cultural figures from the Middle Ages," Helbert said. "The legend of Arthur and the knights of the Round Table is a global phenomenon. Nearly every culture across the world has some fascination with Arthur's story. Camelot represents the idealized society, so it's intuitively attractive to us as humans."
Helbert's text focuses on the evolution of Arthurian tales from the 9th to the 14th century, looking at the borderlands, where the cultures and legends would have mixed.
"Arthurian legends exist in nearly every country, especially the United Kingdom and Europe," Helbert added. "There are texts about Arthur in multiple languages, ranging from Welsh and English to Latin or French."
Published by the Liverpool University Press, Helbert's text pulls from the classic sources like Geoffrey of Monmouth's History of the Kings of Britain. But he also looks at less famous literature from that region, such as Nennius's Historia Brittonum, Fouke le Fitz Waryn, and Breuddwyd Rhonabwy.
"There are five different authors - all from the borderlands (areas between England and Wales), and it is all under-appreciated context to the Arthur legend," Helbert said. "He was originally a Welsh legend and grew from there."
Helbert joined Young Harris College in 2022, with a research background in comparative literary traditions in medieval Britain, especially literature about King Arthur. He has published work previously on "medievalism" (modern literature and cultural products which depict the Middle Ages), especially in American culture.
He has a bachelor's in English from the University of Virginia at Wise and a master's in English from Virginia Tech. He then earned his doctorate at the University of British Columbia.
"[This textbook] was a labor of love, and I'm definitely glad to be done with it and see it published," Helbert added. "It's something I've always been interested in. I've always been fascinated with this world. I'm very proud of the work."
About Young Harris College
Young Harris College is a private baccalaureate and master's degree-granting institution located in the beautiful mountains of Northeast Georgia. Founded in 1886 and historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, Young Harris College educates, inspires, and empowers students through an education that purposefully integrates the liberal arts and professional studies. The College offers 34 majors and 23 minors, ranging from biology or outdoor studies to business administration or kinesiology. Approximately 1,400 students are enrolled in its residential and Early College programs. The College is an active member of the NCAA Division II and remains a fierce competitor in the Conference Carolinas. For more information, visit yhc.edu.
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