Post-Vulgate Cycle
Cistercian Order) | |
Country | Kingdom of France |
---|---|
Language | Old French |
Subject | Matter of Britain |
Genre | Chivalric romance |
Publication date | Estimated 1230–1240 |
The Post-Vulgate Cycle, also known as the Post-Vulgate Arthuriad, the Post-Vulgate Roman du Graal (Romance of the Grail) or the Pseudo-Robert de Boron Cycle,
History
The Post-Vulgate Cycle, written anonymously probably between 1230 and 1235 (different estimates of the beginning date) to 1240, is an attempt to create greater unity in the material, and to de-emphasise the secular love affair between
Branches
The work is divided into four parts, named similar to their corresponding Vulgate versions.
- The Post-Vulgate Estoire del Saint Grail, which did not differ significantly from the Vulgate version. It tells the story of Joseph of Arimathea and his son Josephus, who brings the Holy Grail to Britain.
- The Post-Vulgate Estoire de Merlin, which also bears but few changes from the Vulgate. It concerns Merlinand the early history of Arthur.
- To this section is added the Post-Vulgate Suite du Merlin, also known as the Suite Post-Vulgate and the Huth-Merlin, the first major departure from the source material. It adds many adventures of Arthur and the early Knights of the Round Table, and includes details about Arthur's incestuous begetting of Mordred and receiving Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake that are not found in the Vulgate. The author added some relevant material from the Vulgate Lancelot Proper (otherwise missing from the Post-Vulgate Cycle) and the first version of the Prose Tristan to connect the events to the Queste section.
- The Post-Vulgate Queste del Saint Graal. The Post-Vulgate Queste is very different in tone and content from the Vulgate version, but still describes the knights' search for the Holy Grail, which can only be achieved by the worthy knights Galahad, Percival, and Bors. Elements from the Prose Tristan are present, including the character Palamedes and King Mark's invasions of Arthur's realm.
- The Post-Vulgate Mort Artu, concerning Arthur's death at the hands of his son Mordred and the collapse of his kingdom. It is based more closely on the Vulgate Mort but was abridged and rewritten with greater connectivity to the previous sections.
Modern editions
The first full English translation of the Vulgate and Post-Vulgate Cycles were overseen by Norris J. Lacy.
- Lacy, Norris J. (ed.). Lancelot-Grail: The Old French Arthurian Vulgate and Post-Vulgate in Translation. New York: Garland.
- Volume 4 of 5 (1 April 1995). ISBN 0-8153-0748-9: The Quest for the Holy Grail, The Death of Arthur, and The Post-Vulgate, Part I: The Merlin Continuation.
- Volume 5 of 5 (1 May 1996). ISBN 0-8153-0757-8: The Post-Vulgate, Parts I-III: The Merlin Continuation (end), The Quest for the Holy Grail, The Death of Arthur, and Chapter Summaries and Index of Proper Names.
- Volume 4 of 5 (1 April 1995).
- Lacy, Norris J. (ed.). The Lancelot-Grail Reader: Selections from the Medieval French Arthurian Cycle (2000). New York: Garland. ISBN 0-8153-3419-2
- Lacy, Norris J. (ed.). Lancelot–Grail: The Old French Arthurian Vulgate and Post-Vulgate in Translation. Cambridge: D.S. Brewer.
- Volume 8 of 10 (March 2010). ISBN 9781843842385: The Post-Vulgate Cycle: The Merlin Continuation.
- Volume 9 of 10 (October 2010). ISBN 9781843842330: The Post-Vulgate Cycle: The Quest for the Holy Grail and The Death of Arthur.
- Volume 10 of 10 (March 2010). ISBN 9781843842521: Chapter Summaries for the Vulgate and Post-Vulgate Cycles and Index of Proper Names.
- Volume 8 of 10 (March 2010).
References
- ISBN 9780824044442.
- ^ Bogdanow, Fanni (1966). The Romance of the Grail: A Study of the Structure and Genesis of a Thirteenth-century Arthurian Prose Romance. Manchester University Press. p. 40.
- S2CID 240036368.
Sources
- Bogdanow, Fanni. (1966). The Romance of the Grail: A Study of the Structure and Genesis of a Thirteenth-Century Arthurian Prose Romance. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
- Bogdanow, Fanni. (1986). "La Chute du royaume d'Arthur. Evolution d'un thème." Romania 107, pp. 504–19.
- Lacy, Norris J. (Ed.) (2000). The Lancelot-Grail Reader. New York: Garland. ISBN 0-8153-3419-2.