Perceval
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The Story of the Grail
Chrétien de Troyes; Translated by Burton Raffel; Afterword by Joseph J. Duggan
Out of Print
Acclaimed for his sensitive and faithful translations of the poems of Chrétien, Burton Raffel completes the Arthurian series with this rendition of Perceval. Raffel conveys to the modern English language reader all the delights of Chrétien’s inventive storytelling, perceptive characterizations and vividly evoked emotions.
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"Raffel’s effort is very good and eminently readable. It is not perfect, but no translation is. If we hope to introduce American students to the great work of medieval literature, it will happen through translations. And Raffel’s effort, highly readable, a flowing rendition, is a good step in the right direction."—Wendy Pfeffer, Medieval Review
"Raffel herewith completes his translation of the five 12th-century French Arthurian romances of Chrétien de Troyes. Though Raffel does not imitate the original’s usually end-stopped rhymed octosyllabic couplets, this review recommends his often enjambed, unrhymed, page-turning style for readers at all levels. . . . Recommended for public and academic collections at all levels."—Choice
"Acclaimed for his sensitive and faithful translations of the work of French poet Chrétien de Troyes, Burton Raffel completes the series of five romances that helped to shape the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. This translation conveys to the modern English language reader all the delights of Chrétien’s inventive storytelling, perceptive characterizations, racy wit, sure handed dialogue, and vividly evoked emotions."—Translation Review
Publication Date: January 11, 1999