Richard Barber - The Holy Grail: The History of a Legend

Barbers sensitivity to the diversity of nuances in each of his many sources ensures that each one he looks at affords him some fresh insight. The result is a fascinating compendium of theology, literary criticism and cultural history Lucy Hughes-Hallett, Sunday Times

Thoroughly refreshing and rewarding An elegantly argued and immensely readable study of medieval religious symbolism and literature S. B. Kelly, Scotland on Sunday

Scholarly and comprehensive Barber is an Arthurian expert whose purpose is to hack a path through the muddled, corrupted and conflicting versions of the Grail story the result is admirably thorough, sane and sceptical Nicholas Shakespeare, Daily Telegraph

A valuable account of the literary origins of the Grail legend, as well as its subsequent fortunes Jonathan Sumption, Guardian

Not only does Barber give thorough consideration to a number of conspiracy theories about the secret of the Grail, most notably the idea that Christ survived the Crucifixion and begat a line of kings with Mary Magdalene, he also summarizes the Grails role in alchemical, Rosicrucian, Templar and Gnostic tradition This is a humane and serious book Carolyne Larrington, The Times Literary Supplement

Masterly Barbers book, which restores all [the Grails] gravitas, gives it an exciting new lease of life Christina Hardyment, Independent

The origins, nature and significance of the Holy Grail and why it has exerted such a hold on the Western imagination are the themes that Barber explores in this fascinating and comprehensive account a stimulating study Michael Arditti, Daily Mail

Richard Barbers splendid new book presents a comprehensive survey of the search for the Holy Grail from the twelfth century to the present day Juliette Wood, The Times

Fascinating Barber does a dexterous job of conveying the mood and texture of these variations on Grail story, while at the same time illuminating the religious and political dramas that informed their creation engaging reading as both literary creation and cultural history, thanks largely to the authors fluency and aplomb as a writer Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times

A serious and useful history of the Grail legend, which should dispel some of the more lunatic theories Karen Armstrong, New Statesman

[A] quest to disentangle the numerous myths and meaning that have grown up around the Holy Grail Not only has Richard Barber dealt skilfully with the original medieval evidence; he has also traced the long after-life of the Grail legend, above all in its various nineteenth-and twentieth-century avatars Noel Malcolm, Sunday Telegraph

Fascinating reading Barber offers a fine interpretation of an inspiring legend Ronald Blythe, Oldie

Richard Barber has been writing and publishing in the field of medieval history and literature ever since his student days. His first and most recent books both concern the Arthurian legend. He started with a general survey, Arthur of Albion , in 1961, which is still in print in a revised edition; his second book, Henry Plantagenet (1964) has just been reissued in paperback. He has also written on chivalry, and won the Somerset Maugham award in 1970 for The Knight and Chivalry. Other books include the standard biography of Edward the Black Prince, Edward Prince of Wales and Aquitaine, The Penguin Guide to Medieval Europe , an edition of John Aubreys Brief Lives , and anthologies of medieval literature (Myths and Legends of the British Isles, Legends of Arthur).

Richard Barber has also been a successful publisher. In 1969 he helped to found the Boydell Press, which later became Boydell & Brewer Ltd, one of the leading publishers in medieval studies, and he has been managing director since the outset.

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Published by Allen Lane 2004
Published in Penguin Books 2005
Copyright Richard Barber, 2004
Postscript Richard Barber, 2005
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978-0-14-193723-6

For Helen

COLOUR PLATES

i. Perceval arrives at the Grail castle, from a manuscript of The Story of the Grail written in France in about 133040.
Bibliothque Nationale, Paris, MS Fr. 12577, f.18v.

ii. The Grail feast, from a manuscript of Parzival written in Strassburg around 125075.
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Munich, MS CGM 19, f.50v.

iii. Lancelots vision of the Grail at a wayside cross, from a manuscript of Lancelot written in France in the mid-fifteenth century.
Bibliothque Nationale, Paris, MS Arsenal 3479, f.1.

iv. The Grail appears at Arthurs court, from a manuscript of Lancelot-Grail written at Tournai by the priest Michel Gantelet and finished on 4 July 1470.
Bibliothque Nationale, Paris, MS Fr. 112, f.5.

v. How Sir Galahad, Sir Bors and Sir Percival were fed with the Grael , Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1864, watercolour.
Tate Britain Gallery, London.

vi. La Mort dArthur , James Archer, 1861, oil on canvas.
Manchester Art Gallery.

viii. The Grail , Anton Seder, 1899.
Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, inv. no. 93/983.

BLACK AND WHITE ILLUSTRATIONS

1. Gawain at the Grail procession at the court of the Fisher King, from a manuscript of the First Continuation of The Story of the Grail written in France c. 133040.
Bibliothque Nationale, Paris, MS Fr. 12577, f.18v.

7. Lancelot struck down, from a manuscript version of the Lancelot-Grail , Tournai, 1470.
Bibliothque Nationale, Paris, MS Fr. 112, f.181v.

8. Christs body taken down from the Cross, from a French manuscript of The History of the Holy Grail, c. 1290.
Bibliothque Nationale, Paris, MS Fr. 95, f.6.

9. The Holy Grail appears at Pentecost, early fourteenth-century manuscript, probably from Flanders.
British Library, MS Royal 14.E.III, f.91v.

10. The chosen knights behold the service of the Grail, conducted by bishop Josephus, from a manuscript of The Quest of the Holy Grail written and illuminated by Pierart dou Tielt and finished on 15 August 1351, probably at Tournai.
Bibliothque Nationale, Paris, MS Arsenal 5218, f.88.

12. Joseph of Arimathea collects Christs blood at the Deposition, from a manuscript by Arnulf de Kai, 1286.