The Holy Grail

[Joe Jefferson]

Okay, I've read Wolfram's _Parzival_, Chretien's _The Story of the
Grail_, and _Peredur Son of Efrawg_ from the romances associated with
the Mabinogion (and, of course, Malory). Are there any other medieval
versions of the grail story that are available inexpensively (by which I
mean Penguin or something similar) in English?

[xargon]

Post by Joe Jefferson
Okay, I've read Wolfram's _Parzival_, Chretien's _The Story of the
Grail_, and _Peredur Son of Efrawg_ from the romances associated with
the Mabinogion (and, of course, Malory). Are there any other medieval
versions of the grail story that are available inexpensively (by which I
mean Penguin or something similar) in English?

Malory's _Le Morte d'Arthur_ is always a staple. Of course, the work
deals with much more than just the grail, but a large portion is dedicated
to it. Also, it's a pretty fun read since Malory wrote in a fairly modern
(and readable) form of Middle English.

[FerchArthur]

Post by Joe Jefferson
Okay, I've read Wolfram's _Parzival_, Chretien's _The Story of the
Grail_, and _Peredur Son of Efrawg_ from the romances associated with
the Mabinogion (and, of course, Malory). Are there any other medieval
versions of the grail story that are available inexpensively (by which I
mean Penguin or something similar) in English?

Penguin Classics has an abridged version of "The Quest of the Holy Grail".
It's an abridgement from the Vulgate cycle.
Debra A. Kemp
House of Pendragon I: The Firebrand
2003 Dream Realm Award finalist
http://www.telltalepress.com/debrakemp.html

[John W. Kennedy]

Post by FerchArthur

Post by Joe Jefferson
Okay, I've read Wolfram's _Parzival_, Chretien's _The Story of the
Grail_, and _Peredur Son of Efrawg_ from the romances associated with
the Mabinogion (and, of course, Malory). Are there any other medieval
versions of the grail story that are available inexpensively (by which I
mean Penguin or something similar) in English?

Penguin Classics has an abridged version of "The Quest of the Holy Grail".
It's an abridgement from the Vulgate cycle.

Abridged? Extracted, yes, but I don't recall it being abridged.

Of course there's the 5-volume version of the whole Vulgate and
Post-Vulgate by Lacy et al., but it's expensive (if it's available at
all these days). But a respectable university library ought to have it.

[FerchArthur]

Post by John W. Kennedy
Abridged? Extracted, yes, but I don't recall it being abridged.
Of course there's the 5-volume version of the whole Vulgate and
Post-Vulgate by Lacy et al., but it's expensive (if it's available at
all these days). But a respectable university library ought to have it.
--
John W. Kennedy

Forgive me if I used a term incorrectly, John. However, despite my faulty
memory, I don't recall the Penguin Classics edition as being the entire Grail
portion from the Vulgate--in that the translator summarized some of the
passages rather than translating the whole thing. But I no longer have my
paperback copy of this. I used it for book trade after I got my 5-volume set,
as you mentioned above. Anyway, I don't want to belabour the point, but could
you explain the difference of the words: abridgement and extracted?
Debra A. Kemp
House of Pendragon I: The Firebrand
2003 Dream Realm Award finalist
http://www.telltalepress.com/debrakemp.html

[John W. Kennedy]

Post by FerchArthur
Forgive me if I used a term incorrectly, John. However, despite my faulty
memory, I don't recall the Penguin Classics edition as being the entire Grail
portion from the Vulgate--in that the translator summarized some of the
passages rather than translating the whole thing. But I no longer have my
paperback copy of this. I used it for book trade after I got my 5-volume set,
as you mentioned above. Anyway, I don't want to belabour the point, but could
you explain the difference of the words: abridgement and extracted?

In this case, I meant that it was only "La Queste" and not the whole
friggin' thing.

I picked it up -- Lord, in the 60's, I think it was, back when
Brentano's was Brentano's and not an alternate marque for Waldenbooks.
It was my first acquaintance with the Vulgate, which I did not read in
full until 30 years later, when I got the Lacy.

I think I still have the Penguin somewhere. I don't /remember/ it being
abridged, but I could be wrong.

[xargon]

Post by John W. Kennedy
Of course there's the 5-volume version of the whole Vulgate and
Post-Vulgate by Lacy et al., but it's expensive (if it's available at
all these days). But a respectable university library ought to have it.

Anyone know of a place that sells the 5-volume set? My university library
does indeed carry it, and I've occasionally seen an available copy on
Amazon or bn.com. Seems like a hard item to come by, though.

[John W. Kennedy]

Post by xargon

Post by John W. Kennedy
Of course there's the 5-volume version of the whole Vulgate and
Post-Vulgate by Lacy et al., but it's expensive (if it's available at
all these days). But a respectable university library ought to have it.

Anyone know of a place that sells the 5-volume set? My university library
does indeed carry it, and I've occasionally seen an available copy on
Amazon or bn.com. Seems like a hard item to come by, though.

Garland Press specializes in works for academic libraries, printed on
heavyweight, acid-free paper and with industrial-strength bindings. Few
of their books are on sale for very long, because 95% of their customers
buy them either right away or never.

If you want it now, you're gonna have to go on a book hunt. Be glad
that's 1000% easier now than it was twenty years ago.

[r***@acme.com]

Post by xargon

Post by Joe Jefferson
Okay, I've read Wolfram's _Parzival_, Chretien's _The Story of the
Grail_, and _Peredur Son of Efrawg_ from the romances associated with
the Mabinogion (and, of course, Malory). Are there any other

medieval

Post by xargon

Post by Joe Jefferson
versions of the grail story that are available inexpensively (by which I
mean Penguin or something similar) in English?

Malory's _Le Morte d'Arthur_ is always a staple. Of course, the work
deals with much more than just the grail, but a large portion is dedicated
to it. Also, it's a pretty fun read since Malory wrote in a fairly modern
(and readable) form of Middle English.

Don't just read the Caxton version, which is the one you generally see
in stores. Also read the Winchester manuscript version:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0192541633/qid=1103658145/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/102-4591710-6410507?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

[erilar]

Post by Joe Jefferson
Okay, I've read Wolfram's _Parzival_, Chretien's _The Story of the
Grail_, and _Peredur Son of Efrawg_ from the romances associated with
the Mabinogion (and, of course, Malory). Are there any other medieval
versions of the grail story that are available inexpensively (by which I
mean Penguin or something similar) in English?

Would you enjoy a neat fantasy combining it with the Song of Roland? Try
Judith Tarr's _Kingdom of the Grail_.

There are lots of historical novels dealing with the stuff of Arthur
generally, of course, as well as variations of Parzival.

[Peo Rehn]

available inexpensively.... yes :
http://www.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/gawmenu.htm

Post by Joe Jefferson
Okay, I've read Wolfram's _Parzival_, Chretien's _The Story of the
Grail_, and _Peredur Son of Efrawg_ from the romances associated with
the Mabinogion (and, of course, Malory). Are there any other medieval
versions of the grail story that are available inexpensively (by which I
mean Penguin or something similar) in English?
--
Joe of Castle Jefferson
http://www.mindspring.com/~jjstrshp
Site Updated November 25th, 2001
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