THE POEM, The Death of King Arthur, dates back more than 500 years.

But not that much has changed since then, says Huddersfield poet and author Simon Armitage.

The Marsden-born poet says his latest work – a translation of the 15th century cantos – is packed with blood, gore and Western autocrats battling Muslims in far-off lands.

Six years ago, Simon translated Sir Gawain and the Green Knight – another Arthurian tale from the middle ages – to accolades and great sales.

The Death of King Arthur seemed a natural progression for Simon, who is fascinated by English history of the 14th and 15th centuries.

Simon, who lives in Meltham, says: “It’s that moment in the language where modern English comes into focus, but there’s that mystique from the cobwebs of time.

“At the time modern thinking was coming into place, but there was still superstition and hocus pocus.”

The Death of King Arthur is a collection of medieval poems by several anonymous authors which was compiled and printed in 1485.

But Simon has brought the tale bang up-to-date, which despite the differences between modern and middle English, wasn’t that difficult to do considering the subject matter.

He says: “There’s lots of blood and guts. It’s battle after battle.