Chronicles of the Holy Grail

For the avid reader of Arthurian fiction, the "Quest" is a central theme, but often is not fully developed. Much of Arthurian popular fiction concentrates on the relationship between Arthur and Guinevere and Lancelot and other central characters in the rise and fall of Camelot. This collection of twenty-one short stories concentrates on the quest for the Holy Grail. The authors range from respected Arthurian scholars to renowned authors of fantasy and science fiction. Fourteen of the stories were written specifically for this collection, while the rest were collected by Ashley from other sources including a selection written by Lady Charlotte Guest in 1849 taken from The Mabinogion (a collection of eleven Welsh stories based on the oral recountings of the Arthurian legends). The stories are arranged chronologically, beginning with the origins of the Grail itself, moving through the various quests undertaken by knights in Arthur's court, and ending with several stories which depict the last days of major Arthurian figures Guinevere, Arthur, Lancelot, and Sir Bors. The final story, The Great Return, written by Arthur Machen in 1914, tells of the Grail in the modern world. Each story includes a brief vita of the author and a statement that places the story within the context of the collection. For readers not well versed in the Grail legend, there is an introduction written by Ashley that provides an overview of the legend. He has also included "Dramatis Personae," a guide to Arthurian characters, which is very useful given the unusual spellings of many Welsh names and the fact that the relationships among the characters differ in many of the legends. The collection concludes with an excellent bibliography for readers who wish to study the Grail legend in more detail. There are stories in this collection which will appeal to almost anyone. Serious scholars of the legend may enjoy the more formal writings of Lady Charlotte Guest and Arthur Quiller-Couch. For lovers of fantasy with a "twist," The Figure in Darkness by Ken Alden and The Reliquary by F. Gwynplaine MacIntyre should appeal. One of my personal favorites is The Treasures of Britain by Heather Rose Jones, who introduces a humorous note when she tells the story from the perspective of the women of Arthur's Court. This is an outstanding collection, but it is not a book that most teens will pick up on their own. Many of the stories take some effort to understand and enjoy, but it is worth the effort. If you know a teen who loves fantasy and especially loves anything Arthurian, introduce them to this collection. If you're doing a curriculum unit on King Arthur or medieval literature, be sure to include this with your recommended reading. VOYA Codes: 5Q 2P S (Hard to imagine it being any better written, For the YA with a special interest in the subject, and Senior High-defined as grades 10 to 12).


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