[citation needed] Godwin is known for his novels of legendary figures placed in realistic historical settings, written in a lyrical yet precise prose style and sardonic humor.
His retelling of parts of the Arthur legend, Firelord in 1980, Beloved Exile in 1984, and The Lovers: The Legend of Tristan and Yseult in 1999 (under the pseudonym Kate Hawks) is set in the 5th century during the collapse of the Roman Empire, and his reinterpretation of Robin Hood (Sherwood, 1991, and Robin and the King, 1993) takes place during the Norman conquest and features kings William the Conqueror and William Rufus as major characters.
His short story "Influencing the Hell out of Time and Teresa Golowitz" was the basis of an episode of the television series The Twilight Zone.
Godwin was also at various times a radio operator, a research technician, a professional actor, an advertising man, a dishwasher and a maitre d' hotel.
Godwin's third novel featuring Arthurian material, The Lovers: The Legend of Trystan and Yseult, was published in 1999 under the pseudonym Kate Hawks.