Joseph D Arimathie

The Grail legends have in modern times been appropriated by a number of different scholarly schools of thought; their approaches are analysed here.

"The different cultures from which the middle ages drew its inspiration are represented: Cu Cuchulainn from the Celtic world, Apollonius of Tyre from Greek romance, Attila the Hun and Theodoric the Ostrogoth from the struggle of the Roman empire against the Barbarians. Each entry gives an outline of the story, how it spread through Europe, its modern retelling and appearances in art, and a selective bibliography."--Jacket.

The principal article in this issue examines in detail a group of heraldic manuscripts: an armorial of the Knights of the Round Table, with a number of their arms reproduced in full colour, the treatise on Arthurian tournaments by Jacques d'Armagnac, and the treatise on blazon by Clément Prinsault. A scholarly edition of the two treatises is provided, and the texts are discussed in an introductory section emphasising the importance of Arthurian heraldry. The arms of 150 knights are painted in the manuscripts and blazoned, and 59 of them are reproduced in 10 pages of full-colour plates. Other articles address the underlying theme of the Conte de Graal, in which Alexander is seen as representing the negative aspects of charity; Robert de Boron's endeavours to produce a coherent Arthuriad; and correspondences between the Arthurian tellings of two Old French authors, Manessier and Gerbert de Montreuil. Contributors: BARBARA SARGENT-BAUR, FANNI BOGDANOW, LOUISE D. STEVENS, LISA JEFFERSON.

Students and scholars of biblical reception history; of new testament studies; of English/British history; of English/British literature

Why do the powerful medieval Knights Templar, the famed warriors of the Crusades, still intrigue many today? A secret society long shrouded in mystery, the Templars were believed to conduct mystical rituals, to guard the Holy Grail, and to possess the priceless treasures of the Temple of Jerusalem. Did they bring their treasure to North America, as some legends say? This definitive work about the Templars and their presumed hidden knowledge addresses many such fascinating questions, with rare photos from the Rosslyn Chapel Museum (Scotland) included.

The 1980's and early 1990's were witness to controversial discussions concerning the nature and role of philology in medieval studies. Some scholars defended the values and methods of tradition while others argued for a break with the past and the need to rethink medieval studies in the light of a (post)modern episteme. The essays in this book reflect the vigour of the debate with reference to romance studies, particularly Old French. Taken collectively, they argue not for a choice between two extreme positions, but rather a synthesis that combines the best of both worlds. The contributors are Donald Maddox, Richard F. O'Gorman, William D. Paden, Rupert T. Pickens, Barbara N. Sargent-Baur, Evelyn Birge Vitz, Haijo Westra, and Keith Busby.