The Lancelot-Grail Reader: Selections from the Medieval French Arthurian Cycle - Garland Reference Library of the Humanities

New York & London: Garland Publishing, Inc. - A Membe of The Tylor & Francis Group, 2000. Fourth Printing . Trade Paperback. Fine. 6" x 9. 430 Pages. No defects noted to this As New book with flawless interior text pages. The legend of King Arthur has its roots in the fifth or sixth century, following the Roman withdrawal from Britain around A.D. 410. Not long after that time, stories began to circulate concerning the exploits of a hero and leader to whom the name Arthur would eventually be attached. Although it is clear that there was never a King Arthur corresponding to the legendary figure known to modern readers, there may very well have been a real model, or multiple models, for the king. But whether he lived or not, the tales about him captured the popular imagination and grew into one of the great and enduring legends of all time. 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 Estoire del Saint Graal, the Estoire de Merlin, the huge Lancelot propre, 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.