CivicLAB: Dr Robin Sims: The Green Man, the Ecogothic and Eric Mottram's A Book of Herne - Part of Summer Derby Book Festival 2026

Description

Across Europe, churches feature carved male heads with foliage bursting from the mouth, nostrils or, in more grotesque examples, the eyes. 

In the 20th Century, the folklorist Lady Raglan linked these with popular rituals and aspects of myth to posit a pagan god, the 'Green Man', of whom these sculptures were supposedly traces. The Green Man has subsequently been adopted in modern paganism as well as eco-activism (and he featured too on invitations to the Coronation in 2023). However, the figure also connects to a darker tradition in literature, concerning something sinister in the forest. 

This talk will interpret aspects of this tradition, which includes the early twentieth-century horror stories of Algernon Blackwood, and the densely allusive poetry of Eric Mottram's 1981 collection A Book of Herne.

Dr Robin Sims leads the undergraduate English programme at the University of Derby. He has published on the Green Man and critical theory, as well as the television series Twin Peaks. 

For events at Derby Theatre: priority bookings must be made in person or by phone (01332 593939).  You must use the promo code given to you in your newsletter so box office staff know you are a legitimate Festival Friend

CivicLAB is based at the University of Derby. The city is a UNESCO City of Life Long Learning and home to World Heritage Sites. CivicLAB has been designed to support academics, creative & cultural industry professionals, freelance creatives and the public to share their insights on research and practice through a place-based approach to knowledge generation.

Find out more: @Derby_Civic

www.derby.ac.uk/civicAll