A survey of critical attention devoted to Arthurian matters. This book offers the first comprehensive and analytical account of the development of Arthurian scholarship from the eighteenth century, or earlier, to the present day. The chapters, each written by an expert in the area under discussion, present scholarly trends and evaluate major contributions to the study of the numerous different strands which make up the Arthurian material: origins, Grail studies, editing and translation of Arthurian texts, medieval and modern literatures (in English and European languages), art and film. The result is an indispensable resource for students and a valuable guide for anyone with a serious interest in the Arthurian legend. Contributors:NORRIS LACY, TONY HUNT, KEITH BUSBY, JANE TAYLOR, CHRISTOPHER SNYDER, RICHARD BARBER, SIAN ECHARD, GERALD MORGAN, ALBRECHT CLASSEN, ROGER DALRYMPLE, BART BESAMUSCA, MARIANNE E. KALINKE, BARBARA MILLER, CHRISTOPHER KLEINHENZ, MURIEL WHITAKER, JEANNE FOX-FRIEDMAN, DANIEL NASTALI, KEVIN J. HARTY NORRIS J. LACY is Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of French and Medieval Studies at Pennsylvania State University.

An examination of both the role played by Fortune in Arthurian literature and legend, and the fortunes of the legend itself. The essays in this volume offer a general overview and a number of detailed examinations of Arthur's fortunes, in two senses. First is the role of Fortune itself, often personified and consistently instrumental, in accounts of Arthur's court and reign. More generally the articles trace the trajectory of the Arthurian legend - its birth, rise and decline - through the middle ages. The final essay follows the continued turning of Fortune's wheel, emphasizingthe modern revival and flourishing of the legend. The authors, all distinguished Arthurian scholars, illustrate their arguments through studies of early Latin and Welsh sources, chronicles, romances [in English, French, German, Italian, Latin and Welsh], manuscript illustration and modern literary texts. Contributors: CHRISTOPHER A. SNYDER, SIAN ECHARD, EDWARD DONALD KENNEDY, W.R.J. BARRON, DENNIS H. GREEN, NORRIS LACY, CERIDWEN LLOYD-MORGAN, JOAN TASKER GRIMBERT, ALISON STONES, NEIL THOMAS, JANE H.M. TAYLOR, CAROLINE D. ECKHARDT, ALAN C LUPACK.

12th-century French retellings and variations of the story of Tristan and Iseut. The strong and enduring appeal of the Arthurian legends shows no signs of abating, yet many medieval Arthurian texts remain unedited or printed in editions no longer available, while comparatively few of them have been translatedinto English, thus making them inaccessible to the scholarly or general audience unable to read them in the original. The Arthurian Archives series addresses these problems, aiming to provide authoritative critical editionswith parallel translation of essentialtexts for Arthurian studies; each text will be accompanied by a brief introduction, variants and rejected readings, and critical notes. This first volume offers a collection of the French Tristan texts prior to the Prose Tristan; of particular importance is the recently-discovered Thomas fragment, here edited Ian Short. Contents: Beroul, The Romance of Tristan (Norris Lacy); Thomas, Tristan (Stewart Gregory); `The Carlisle Fragment' of Thomas's Tristan (Ian Short) Marie de France, Chevrefeuil (Richard O'Gorman)The Folie Tristan de Berne and the Folie Tristan d'Oxford (Samuel N. Rosenberg)

Published in 1992, this text discusses Les Voeux du Heron, a short text, comprising only 442 lines that was popular in the late Middle Ages but is virtually unknown today. This book includes and English translation, as well as a reconstruction of Manuscript U, published in its entirety for the first time.

Published in 1989: A translation of Beroul's twelfth century Tristran from the Old French. Discussion of the author is included, but since nothing is known of him (or them) the biography is limited. His literary style and historical (or legendary) influence are well surveyed.

A fine collection...an excellent introduction to Chretien's world and work. Highly recommended. CHOICE Chretien de Troyes is arguably the creator of Arthurian romance, and it is on his work that later writers have based their interpretations. This book offers both crucial information on, and a comprehensive coverage of, all aspectsof the work of Chretien de Troyes - the literary and historical background, patronage, his influence on other writers, manuscripts and editions of his work and, at the heart of the volume, major essays on the themes, techniques and artistic achievements in each of his compositions; the contributions, all from leading experts in Chretien and related studies, have been commissioned especially for this volume and are designed to remain accessible to studentswhile also addressing specialists in Arthurian studies and Chretien de Troyes. They reflect the most current critical and scholarly views on one of the greatest of medieval authors. CONTRIBUTORS: JOHN W. BALDWIN, JUNEHALL MCCASH, LAURENCE HARF-LANCNER, NORRIS J. LACY, DOUGLAS KELLY, KEITH BUSBY, PETER F. DEMBOWSKI, ROBERTA L. KRUEGER, DONALD MADDOX, SARA STURM-MADDOX, JOAN TASKER GRIMBERT, MATILDA TOMARYN BRUCKNER, TONY HUNT, RUPERT T. PICKENS, ANNIE COMBES, MICHELLE SZKILNIK, EMMANUELE BAUMGARTNER

The Quest of the Holy Grail adds a spiritual dimension to the adventures of Arthur's knights. Galahad replaces Lancelot as the central figure, though he appears and disappears so often that many of the knights are engaged in a quest to find him rather than the Grail. The central concept of the Grail was never accepted by the Church, and the Quest remains a secular romance which can be interpreted as a spiritual allegory. This is done by the hermits who appear throughout the story, pointing out the meaning of each adventure. The adventures have a strong element of the magical and otherworldly, and the story is more closely structured than Lancelot, with the accomplishment of the Grail adventure by Galahad, Perceval and Bors as its centre and culmination. For a full description of the Vulgate Cycle see the blurb for the complete set.

The Lancelot-Grail Reader showcases in a single volume significant episodes from Garland's complete five-volume translation of the Vulgate and Post-Vulgate Cycles of Arthurian romance. Dating from the early 13th century, the Vulgate Cycle relates the entire course of Arthurian legend, from the early history of the Grail to Arthur's death. The five component romances, written by an anonymous author or group of authors, are the Estoiredel Saint Graal, the Estoire de Merlin, the huge Lancelotpropre, the Queste del Saint Graal, and the tragic conclusion, the Mort Artu. The Post-Vulgate Cycle, also written anonymously, is a modified version of the Vulgate material reconstructed by scholars from surviving fragments translated into Spanish and Portuguese. Instead of focusing on the illicit love of Lancelot and Guenevere, the Post-Vulgate author sets Arthur and the Grail at center stage. Like the original five-volume set, The Lancelot-Grail Reader is the work of a team of translators including General Editor Norris J. Lacy, Martha Asher, E. Jane Burns, Carleton E. Carroll, Carol J. Chase, William W. Kibler, Roberta L. Krueger, Rupert T. Pickens, and Samuel N. Rosenberg. This volume, edited for students, Arthurian scholars, and enthusiasts, also includes a concise introduction and suggestions for further reading.

First published in 1993. This volume is th author's observations of his reading of Fabliaux in order to observe their materials, methods and to evaluate the effect of those methods. He looks at 150 texts in order to uncover the indivdual fabliau, rather than treat them as a whole genre.

The Post-Vulgate Cycle reworks the Vulgate Cycle from the end of The Story of Merlin. The sequel opens with Arthur's unwitting incest with his sister, and his establishment, with Merlin's help, of his title to the kingdom. The story of the events leading up to the Dolorous Blow is then recounted, as well as its consequences. A sequence of adventures follows, largely involving Gawain and his brothers; Lancelot appears only at the end of the continuation, as does Perceval, whose story concludes the romance. For a full description of the Post-Vulgate Cycle see the blurb for the complete set.

The French Lancelot-Grail Cycle (also known as the Vulgate Cycle) and the slightly later Post-Vulgate are long prose romances that present the full Arthurian story, including Camelot and the Round Table, the love story of Lancelot and Guenevere, the life of Merlin, and the Quest for the Grail. These five volumes offer full translations of both cycles.

The influence of these Cycles is almost incalculable; they have been translated or adapted into a number of languages and have been the source or basis for many writers, including Sir Thomas Malory, though they also act as great works in their own right.

For ease of use, each volume is divided into numbered and titled sections or chapters, summaries of all romances, keyed to chapter divisions, are included in the final volume (V) and notes give information about textual and cultural matters and offer a key to internal cross references.

First Published in 1993. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

The French Lancelot-Grail Cycle (also known as the Vulgate Cycle) and the slightly later Post-Vulgate are long prose romances that present the full Arthurian story, including Camelot and the Round Table, the love story of Lancelot and Guenevere, the life of Merlin, and the Quest for the Grail. These five volumes offer full translations of both cycles.

The influence of these Cycles is almost incalculable; they have been translated or adapted into a number of languages and have been the source or basis for many writers, including Sir Thomas Malory, though they also act as great works in their own right.

For ease of use, each volume is divided into numbered and titled sections or chapters, summaries of all romances, keyed to chapter divisions, are included in the final volume (V) and notes give information about textual and cultural matters and offer a key to internal cross references.

The French Lancelot-Grail Cycle (also known as the Vulgate Cycle) and the slightly later Post-Vulgate are long prose romances that present the full Arthurian story, including Camelot and the Round Table, the love story of Lancelot and Guenevere, the life of Merlin, and the Quest for the Grail. These five volumes offer full translations of both cycles.

The influence of these Cycles is almost incalculable; they have been translated or adapted into a number of languages and have been the source or basis for many writers, including Sir Thomas Malory, though they also act as great works in their own right.

For ease of use, each volume is divided into numbered and titled sections or chapters, summaries of all romances, keyed to chapter divisions, are included in the final volume (V) and notes give information about textual and cultural matters and offer a key to internal cross references.

The French Lancelot-Grail Cycle (also known as the Vulgate Cycle) and the slightly later Post-Vulgate are long prose romances that present the full Arthurian story, including Camelot and the Round Table, the love story of Lancelot and Guenevere, the life of Merlin, and the Quest for the Grail. These five volumes offer full translations of both cycles.

The influence of these Cycles is almost incalculable; they have been translated or adapted into a number of languages and have been the source or basis for many writers, including Sir Thomas Malory, though they also act as great works in their own right.

For ease of use, each volume is divided into numbered and titled sections or chapters, summaries of all romances, keyed to chapter divisions, are included in the final volume (V) and notes give information about textual and cultural matters and offer a key to internal cross references.

Lancelot is the central romance of the Vulgate Cycle, in which the chivalric elements in Arthur's court come to the fore. These chivalric elements contain the seeds of Arthur's destruction and the dissolution of the Round Table, as Lancelot's love for Guinevere undermines his bond to Arthur; the tension between love, prowess and loyalty is the undercurrent of the long romance which describes the exploits which he performs in her service. It also includes many stories which are chivalric adventures largely unrelated to the main theme, and uses the device of interweaving these stories to form a huge stream of narrative. This series of episodic pictures leads ultimately to the birth of Lancelot's son Galahad, who is destined to become the hero of the Grail. Parts five and six of Lancelot move nearer to the beginning of the Grail quest; Lancelot comes to the Grail castle, and is deceived into sleeping with Elaine, thinking that she is Guinevere; Galahad is born of their union. Arthur's wars with Rome are retold from the original chronicle versions, and Lancelot plays a major part in the king's victory. Lancelot is deceived again when Elaine comes to Arthur's court, and when Guinevere realises that he has slept with Elaine; she banishes him from court, and he goes mad with grief. The romance ends with Lancelot's return to sanity and the arrival of Galahad at court. For a full description of the Vulgate Cycle see the blurb for the complete set.

Published in 1992, this text discusses Les Voeux du Heron, a short text, comprising only 442 lines that was popular in the late Middle Ages but is virtually unknown today. This book includes and English translation, as well as a reconstruction of Manuscript U, published in its entirety for the first time.

This volume treats the fascinating character of Perceval (or Parzival), the naive and flawed but gifted youth who becomes the Grail hero in some texts and yet is eclipsed in others by Galahad. Concentrating on medieval and modern literature, film, and Wagnerian opera, the book gathers both classic studies and new essays commissioned for this volume. A full introductory essay and extensive bibliography are included.

This collection gathers recent criticism focusing on female characters in Arthurian literature from the Middle Ages to the present. Touching on important characters from Morgan Le Fay and Guenevere to Laudine and Lunette, the essays discuss medieval and modern readers of the legend, as well as modern critics, writers, and artists who have engaged with the Arthurian story.

Published in 1989: A translation of Beroul's twelfth century Tristran from the Old French. Discussion of the author is included, but since nothing is known of him (or them) the biography is limited. His literary style and historical (or legendary) influence are well surveyed.

Everything you ever wanted to know about King Arthur and his knights is covered in this fascinating volume: the origins of the Grail legend, the Tristan and Isolde love story in opera and literature, Spielberg's use of Arthurian motifs in "Star Wars," the depiction of Arthur in paintings, the presentation of Camelot on the Broadway stage, the twitting of the legend in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" and much more.
This critical survey of Arthurian history and legend, archaeology, literature, and the arts from the fifth century to the present provides an introduction for the general reader and a useful summary for the specialist. It offers both historical facts and key discussions on Arthurian subjects, from post-Roman Britain to the most recent novels and films. There is a lengthy glossary of Arthurian characters, motifs, and places, a chronology of major historical and literary items, a guide to pronunciation, and a full bibliography.
What's new in the Second Edition: All the material has been revised and updated to 1996 since the original 1988 edition; The chapter on modern literature has been thoroughly revised, with new material on writings from France, Germany, England, and America; The coverage of King Arthur in the arts has entirely rewritten by one of the premier authorities in Arthurian studies. Brand-new geneological charts of the ancestry of Arthur and his family and the Grail kings and knights.; A fully up-to-date chronology; Many new illustrations.

Featuring three original and 14 classic essays, this volume examines literary representations of women in Arthuriana and how women artists have viewed them. The essays discuss the female characters in Arthurian legend, medieval and modern readers of the legend, modern critics and the modern women writers who have recast the Arthurian inheritance, and finally women visual artists who have used the material of the Arthurian story. All the essays concentrate interpretation on a female creator and the work. This collection contains a useful bibliography of material devoted to female characters in Arthurian literature.

Written by an international team of over 130 authorities, no other work approaches this A-Z guide to the legends of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table for breadth and depth of coverage. It is the ultimate resource for reliable information on topics as diverse as the Grail, Tristan and Isolde, Lancelot and Guenevere, Arthurian operas, the historicity of Arthur and much more.

First published in 1993. This volume is th author's observations of his reading of Fabliaux in order to observe their materials, methods and to evaluate theeffect of those methods. He looks at 150 texts in order to uncover the indivdual fabliau, rather than treat them as a whole genre.

Lancelot is the central romance of the Vulgate Cycle, in which the chivalric elements in Arthur's court come to the fore. These chivalric elements contain the seeds of Arthur's destruction and the dissolution of the Round Table, as Lancelot's love for Guinevere undermines his bond to Arthur; the tension between love, prowess and loyalty is the undercurrent of the long romance which describes the exploits which he performs in her service. It also includes many stories which are chivalric adventures largely unrelated to the main theme, and uses the device of interweaving these stories to form a huge stream of narrative. This series of episodic pictures leads ultimately to the birth of Lancelot's son Galahad, who is destined to become the hero of the Grail. Parts one and two of l>Lancelot/l> cover Lancelot's boyhood and his admission to Arthur's court, where he falls immediately in love with Guinevere. The adventures and quests which follow take us to the point where he becomes a companion of the Round Table. For a full description of the Vulgate Cycle see the blurb for the complete set.