The St. Albans ghost in William of Malmesbury

Record summary

William of Malmesbury’s historical writings preserve medieval stories of apparitions, revenants, prodigies, and monastic wonders, including traditions associated with St Albans and other English religious sites. This is a research lead for locating a specific textual episode within a broader corpus rather than a claim about one independently documented haunting. It can illuminate how clerical authors used the dead, sacred geography, and marvels to interpret institutional history. Edition, manuscript, and source criticism are essential because William frequently compiles earlier material and evaluates reports rhetorically.