The high book of the Grail : a translation of the thirteenth century romance of Perlesvaus / translated and introduced by Nigel Bryant.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Bryant, Nigel, 1953-

Standardized Title:

Perlesvaus. English.

Language:

English

French, Old (ca. 842-1300)

Subjects (All):

Perceval (Legendary character)--Romances.

Perceval.

Perceval (Legendary character).

Romances.

Romances--Translations into English.

Arthurian romances.

Grail--Romances.

Grail.

Physical Description:

265 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK ; Rochester, NY : D.S. Brewer, [1996]

Summary:

The High Book of the Grail (Perlesvaus) is one of the most fascinating of medieval Arthurian romances, standing apart from the main tradition represented by the great romance cycles on which Malory based his work. Written in the first half of the thirteenth century, it represents a totally different view of the legend of the Holy Grail from that found in Wolfram yon Eschenbach or the French Quest of the Holy Grail, though all derive from Chretien's Perceval; the unknown author adds a much greater religious emphasis, and a desire to glorify crusading chivalry for the secular adventures of Arthur, Perceval, and Lancelot. The framework of the romance is the struggle of Arthur and his knights to impose, by force, the New Law of Christianity in place of the Old Law: as Nigel Bryant says in his introduction, 'unlike most of the Arthurian romances, we do not merely see individual knights riding off on individual quests and adventures, but Arthur's kingdom involved as a kingdom in a great adventure, defending the land against treason and paganism, and advancing to convert the heathens of other lands.' This unique view of the Arthurian world is now made accessible to students of medieval literature, Arthurian enthusiasts and to historians interested in the world of chivalry and its attitudes.-- Perlesvaus is one of the earliest and most important of the Grail romances, introducing a new degree of religious emphasis.

Notes:

Originally published: Ipswich : Brewer, 1978.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 15-17).

ISBN:

0859915107

OCLC:

36104104