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The Holy Grail
Through its various guises as magic cauldron, cornucopia, horn of plenty and chalice cup the Holy Grail has remained at the center of popular culture from antiquity right up to the present day.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2005
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77 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
April 16, 2022
This is a high-level guide to The Holy Grail charting the origins of the quest from the early Christian gospels through to modern day stories and films.
The book introduces all the characters you would expect: King Arthur, Galahad, Percival, Wolfram von Eschenbach, Malory, TS Eliot, Dan Brown, and Indiana Jones.
It's an interesting read and includes many interpretations about the Grail legends from authors who might not get a mention in more academic books on the subject.
The book was written before the latest 'research' on the Holy Grail, research indicating the grail is in Leon, Spain. There's also no mention of the grail in Valencia cathedral.
The book introduces all the characters you would expect: King Arthur, Galahad, Percival, Wolfram von Eschenbach, Malory, TS Eliot, Dan Brown, and Indiana Jones.
It's an interesting read and includes many interpretations about the Grail legends from authors who might not get a mention in more academic books on the subject.
The book was written before the latest 'research' on the Holy Grail, research indicating the grail is in Leon, Spain. There's also no mention of the grail in Valencia cathedral.
June 8, 2009
An excellent overview of/introduction to the myth of the Holy Grail - including discussion of the Holy Grail motif in contemporary film.
May 12, 2023
Author Giles Morgan examines the Holy Grail from a religious point of view as well as from the many legends that surround it. Included in this concise account are its origins and its link to Christ. Also included are the ways the Grail figured in literature, art, music, and ancient organizations, such as the Templar Knights. The magnitude of the Grail has spawned several legends and inspired the imagination of modern writers and movie producers. The author also gives a brief history of the time period of the Grail as well as discussing briefly other ancient artifacts, such as the Shroud of Turin. Though short in pages, this book is long on information, written precisely and without personal opinions.
April 26, 2023
This is a great summing up of why the grail is such a powerful symbol of Christianity. From Geoffrey of Monmouth to Parcival,Malory and its pagan origins (e.g. the Celtic Cauldron). I especially liked the section on Glastonbury (a magic place you definitely have to visit) with its magic Tor, Chalice Well and the legend of Joseph of Arimathea. There is also broad focus on King Arthur and the Grail Quest, the great grail revival of the 18th and 19th century and its modern obsession (e.g. with Tolkien). The book closes with reference to films and some websites to visit. Well written, condensed information on everything you need to know about this magic chalice. Highly recommended!
September 16, 2022
Informative and interesting book about the holy grail. The eternal life chalice is found across all religions and cultures from the 12th century on. Originally a pagan concept embraced by the Catholic Church to encourage conversion with origins in the Arthurian legends. Fascinating.
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Trust in your reads challenge-fact trust
January 9, 2020
It is a very basic introduction and I found many new people, movies, and books to research.
October 12, 2020
A good introduction to the history of the grail myth, not super detailed in sections.
February 14, 2021
Everything you always wanted to know about King Arthur but were afraid to ask
March 1, 2025
Left more questions than answers
June 3, 2013
Check out the full review on my blog: http://nadanessinmotion.blogspot.com/...
When I first picked up Giles Morgan’s The Holy Grail, it was on sale at a local bookstore otherwise it would have been too expensive. I’m glad it was on sale because it’s a real treasure.
Overall the book is divided into eight chapters. Each chapter is subdivided into shorter parts. It is easy and interesting to read, especially since it intertwines history and literature. Although it does not have any complete stories, The Holy Grail encompasses many smaller and shorter stories within the folds of its pages. The reader is often reluctant to turn the page for fear of forgetting the beauty of the page before it.
The first three chapters are titled: “The Magic Vessel”, “The Cup of Christ” and “Glatsonbury and the Grail”. The first chapter handles the Grail as an idea or a magic vessel; it discusses how various cultures have objects similar to the Grail. For instance, in Celtic mythology, they had, instead of the chalice cup, a magic cauldron. The book also traces the Holy Grail in literature across time, particularly with regards to King Arthur and his knights, who were often, if not always, associated with a quest to seek out or retrieve the Holy Grail. Morgan explores the Grail in relation to Christ and Joseph of Arimathea, who as Morgan explains “plays a key role in the medieval Grail stories, and other than Christ, he is a biblical character mostly associated with [the Grail]".
Following that is an entire chapter, excluding other references throughout the book, dedicated to “Arthur and the Holy Grail”. This fourth chapter is followed by another called “The Grail Mysteries”, which explores the Templars, the Cathars and The Turin Shroud, and other religious groups and ideas often associated with the Grail.
The three remaining chapters in the book are titled: “The Grail Revival”, “A Modern Obsession” and “The Cinema of the Grail”.
The following chapter “A Modern Obsession” handles the Grail through the works of T. S. Eliot, Carl Jung, T. H. White and J. R. R. Tolkien.
When I first picked up Giles Morgan’s The Holy Grail, it was on sale at a local bookstore otherwise it would have been too expensive. I’m glad it was on sale because it’s a real treasure.
Overall the book is divided into eight chapters. Each chapter is subdivided into shorter parts. It is easy and interesting to read, especially since it intertwines history and literature. Although it does not have any complete stories, The Holy Grail encompasses many smaller and shorter stories within the folds of its pages. The reader is often reluctant to turn the page for fear of forgetting the beauty of the page before it.
The first three chapters are titled: “The Magic Vessel”, “The Cup of Christ” and “Glatsonbury and the Grail”. The first chapter handles the Grail as an idea or a magic vessel; it discusses how various cultures have objects similar to the Grail. For instance, in Celtic mythology, they had, instead of the chalice cup, a magic cauldron. The book also traces the Holy Grail in literature across time, particularly with regards to King Arthur and his knights, who were often, if not always, associated with a quest to seek out or retrieve the Holy Grail. Morgan explores the Grail in relation to Christ and Joseph of Arimathea, who as Morgan explains “plays a key role in the medieval Grail stories, and other than Christ, he is a biblical character mostly associated with [the Grail]".
Following that is an entire chapter, excluding other references throughout the book, dedicated to “Arthur and the Holy Grail”. This fourth chapter is followed by another called “The Grail Mysteries”, which explores the Templars, the Cathars and The Turin Shroud, and other religious groups and ideas often associated with the Grail.
The three remaining chapters in the book are titled: “The Grail Revival”, “A Modern Obsession” and “The Cinema of the Grail”.
The following chapter “A Modern Obsession” handles the Grail through the works of T. S. Eliot, Carl Jung, T. H. White and J. R. R. Tolkien.
July 24, 2015
This was a great introduction to the concept of The Holy Grail. Seamlessly blending both myth, history, and mystery, it provided a great spread of theories concerning the grail, where it came from, and where it might be now. If you are interested in reading about the Holy Grail, and/or are looking for some new theories about it, this is a great book. Morgan doesn't cover each topic completely, but he provides some great starting points, and his rich bibliography provides the rest!
April 17, 2014
There is controversy as to what the Holy Grail actually is, whether an object or the bloodline of Jesus. The author exams stories, poems, and legends about the Grail, some even pre-Christian. an interesting read.
March 17, 2016
Clear and concise. Takes necessary research information and presents it in an engaging way, and brings to light the lesser known origins of the Holy Grail legend.
October 3, 2016
rubbish
June 5, 2024
Very informal
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews