Vast in its scope, incomparably dense in its imagery, Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzival ranks alongside Dante's Divine Comedy as one of the foremost narrative works to emerge from medieval Europe. This book is a new translation of Parzival, together with the fragments of the Titurel, an elegiac offshoot of Parzival, and the nine love-songs attributed to Wolfram. Parzival is the greatest of the medieval Grail romances. In its depth and complexity of characterisation this work of the early thirteenth century anticipates the modern novel. It encompasses deeds of chivalry, tournaments and sieges, courtly love, and other erotic undertakings, but also sin and penance, and a deeply moving study in depression. Centre stage are the Grail Castle and Arthur's Round Table, but the pagan world of the Orient also is also reflected. Parzival has inspired and influenced works as diverse as Wagner's Parsifal and Lohengrin, Franz Kafka's The Castle, Terry Jones's film The Fisher King, and Umberto Eco's Baudolino. Cyril Edwards' thoughtful translation vividly conveys the power of this complex, wide-ranging medieval masterpiece.
Author(s): Wolfram von Eschenbach
Year: 2004
Language: English
Pages: 368
Preliminaries......Page 1
Contents......Page 5
PARZIVAL Book I......Page 35
Book II......Page 53
Book III......Page 71
Book IV......Page 92
Book V......Page 105
Book VI......Page 123
Book VII......Page 142
Book VIII......Page 161
Book IX......Page 173
Book X......Page 195
Book XI......Page 211
Book XII......Page 221
Book XIII......Page 234
Book XIV......Page 250
Book XV......Page 267
Book XVI......Page 285
Titurel Fragment I......Page 301
Fragment II......Page 312
Fragment III Gahmuret’s Death......Page 316
Fragment IV The Parting......Page 318
Love Lyrics Song I Den morgenblic......Page 322
Song II Sîne klâwen......Page 323
Song III Ez ist nu tac......Page 326
Song IV Von der zinnen wil ich gên......Page 328
Song V Der helden minne ir klage......Page 331
Song VI Ein wîp mac wol erlouben mir......Page 332
Song VII Ursprinc bluomen......Page 333
Song VIII Guot wîp ich bitte dich minne......Page 335
Song IX Maniger klaget......Page 339
The Illustrations to the Munich Parzival Cgm 19......Page 341
Middle High German and its Pronunciation......Page 350
List of People and Places in Parzival and Titurel......Page 352
