Jessie Weston (1850-1928) was a pioneer Arthurian scholar. Working independently, she was often at odds with received academic opinion of her time, but her work has been an important influence on the course of Arthurian studies. This study of the Old French prose romance Perlesvaus, on which she worked for over a decade, represents the culmination of her long and controversial career, but unfortunately remained unpublished after her death.
Composed after 1191, probably to promote the fame of Glastonbury Abbey, the site of the supposed exhumation of Arthur and Guenevere, the romance picks up the story of Perceval some time after his visit to the Grail Castle, when he failed to ask about the Grail. A strong crusader tone is a feature of the latter part of the romance, while the earlier is rich in the folklore elements and sheer exploit of the type Weston favoured. Jessie Weston's work on the romance still offers important material for scholarly discussion, and Janet Grayson has performed a valuable service in preparing it for publication and making it available.Published in the US in 1988: not previously available elsewhere.
- ISBN10 0859913449
- ISBN13 9780859913447
- Publish Date 1 January 1988
- Publish Status Inactive
- Out of Print 27 April 1998
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Boydell & Brewer Ltd
- Imprint D.S. Brewer
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 188
- Language English