New Books in Ancient History Paul Robichaud, "Stories of the Stones: Imagining Prehistory in Britain, Ireland and Brittany" (Reaktion, 2026)
Apr 13, 2026
Dr. Paul Robichaud, a professor of English and scholar of megalithic monuments, discusses how standing stones and earthworks have been reimagined across time. He traces medieval myths, Romantic fascination, folkloric motifs like petrified dancers and giants, and regional differences across Britain, Ireland and Brittany. The conversation highlights why these enigmatic sites keep inspiring stories.
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Childhood Visit Sparked Lifelong Megalith Obsession
- Paul Robichaud's childhood fascination with megaliths began from TV and a Stonehenge book brought by his grandparents.
- He later visited Kalanish on the Isle of Lewis in the 1990s, which deepened his lifelong interest and inspired the book.
A Greek Travel Account May Be The Oldest Stone Story
- The earliest surviving account possibly describing a megalithic circular temple comes from a 6th century BC traveler preserved by Diodorus Siculus.
- Scholars suggest this may refer to Calanish or Stonehenge and notes a moon visitation every 18 years as part of the description.
Geoffrey's Merlin Story Shaped Stonehenge's Myth
- Stonehenge became iconic in written sources from the 12th century onward with sketches and mythic histories.
- Geoffrey of Monmouth's tale gives a long-lasting origin: giants brought the stones to Ireland and Merlin moved them to Salisbury Plain.
