Romance of the Grail: The Magic and Mystery of Arthurian Myth

(Paperback)

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The first collection of Joseph Campbells writings and lectures on the Arthurian romances of the Middle Ages, a central focus of his celebrated scholarship, now in paperback

Throughout his life, Joseph Campbell was deeply engaged in the study of the Grail Quests and Arthurian legends of the European Middle Ages. In this new paperback volume of the Collected Works of Joseph Campbell, editor Evans Lansing Smith collects Campbells writings and lectures on Arthurian legends, including his never-before-published masters thesis on Arthurian myth, A Study of the Dolorous Stroke. Campbells writing captures the incredible stories of such figures as Merlin, Gawain, and Guinevere as well as the larger patterns and meanings revealed in these myths. Merlins death and Arthur receiving Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake, for example, are not just vibrant stories but also central to the mythologists thinking.

The Arthurian myths opened the world of comparative mythology to Campbell, turning his attention to the Near and Far Eastern roots of myth. Calling the Arthurian romances the worlds first secular mythology, Campbell found metaphors in them for human stages of growth, development, and psychology. The myths exemplify the kind of love Campbell called amor, in which individuals become more fully themselves through connection. Campbells infectious delight in his discoveries makes this volume essential for anyone intrigued by the stories we telland the stories behind them.

Reviews

Having Campbells research and insights gathered in this volume is a service to all who wish to deepen our understanding of the power, the potentials, and the poetics of myth.
Jung Journal

Well-rounded and concise essential readings on Arthurian mythology by one of Americas leading mythologists and incredible storytellers. Highly recommended for readers interested in Campbell, mythology, or Arthurian studies.
Library Journal

Author Bio

Joseph Campbell is widely credited with bringing mythology to a mass audience. His works, including The Hero with a Thousand Faces, the four-volume The Masks of God, and The Power of Myth (with Bill Moyers), rank among the classics in mythology and literature.

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