The holy grail : the history of a legend

Bibliographic Information

The holy grail : the history of a legend

Richard Barber

(Penguin books, . History/Religion)

Penguin, 2005

Available at  / 5 libraries

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Note

Originally published: Allen Lane, 2004

Includes bibliographical references (p. 381-411) and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

The Holy Grail is an image familiar to us all as an almost unattainable, infinitely desirable goal. The idea has passed into everyday speech and the legends behind it are as current in today's culture as they have ever been. And yet the Grail has no real religious meaning and is nowhere mentioned in the Bible. What is the truth behind this elusive symbol? Here, Barber traces the history of the stories surrounding the Holy Grail. He describes how through a long series of imaginative transformations, the grail has moved from the sphere of romance to religion, and in twentieth century popular culture has become an emblem of mysticism and man's highest aspirations, intimately linked with the central ritual of the Christian faith. The search for the grail has always been described as a quest; in this book, Barber goes on his own quest, brilliantly exploring the richness of the Holy Grail's cultural impact. Barber traces the history of legends surrounding the Holy Grail, from Chretien de Troyes' great romances to the popular bestsellers of the late twentieth century.

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Details

  • NCID
    BA71103798
  • ISBN
    • 0140267654
  • Country Code
    uk
  • Title Language Code
    eng
  • Text Language Code
    eng
  • Place of Publication
    London
  • Pages/Volumes
    xiv, 463 p., [8] p. of plates
  • Size
    20 cm
  • Classification
  • Subject Headings
  • Parent Bibliography ID
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