An enchanting, forgotten masterpiece, The Romance of William and the Werewolf is the story of two princes who overcame their family's corruption to reclaim their inheritance and build a society based on tolerance and equality.

Initially titled William of Palerne, it was first translated from French and then adapted into an alternative romance narrative in Middle English by an unknown scribe from Gloucestershire around 1350. It has never been translated into modern English until now.

Written over 600 years ago, it is a multifaceted tale of poverty, justice, exile, and the "other" identity. The themes of inheritance, women's liberty, justice and forgiveness, family responsibility, and social class speak to us with the same clarity today, challenging us to reflect on our politics of class division, as well as corruption, entitlement, and the indifference that permeates them.

Like Michael Smith's other translations, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and King Arthur's Death, The Romance of William and the Werewolf will include a detailed historical introduction, a comprehensive glossary and notes, as well as Michael's rich and beautiful linocut illustrations.