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Parzival and the Stone from Heaven
Lindsay Clarke's Parzival and the Stone from Heaven is a hypnotic retelling of the medieval romance of the quest for the Holy Grail. However, Clarke's book is not a novel in the conventional sense, but a free adaptation of Wolfram von Eschenbach's 13th-century story Parzival . Drawing on Eschenbach, Clarke recounts the adventures of the royal-born Parzival, whose name means, "to pierce through the middle". Brought up by a mother crazed with grief at the death of her chivalrous husband on the battlefield, Parzival is initially ignorant of his destiny as a knight who must search for the Holy Grail and unite it with the earth. As Parzival's swashbuckling adventures lead him from ignorance and wounding to insight and healing, he meets King Arthur, the Gawain Knight and the mysterious Fisherman, the failed guardian of the Grail. Clarke takes many liberties with Eschenbach's original, but tells a well-paced story, one whose characters are more archetype than individual. This is why, for Clarke, the story is universal and remains "a contemporary story and a salutary myth for our own troubled and exhilarating times". -- Jerry Brotton
240 pages, Hardcover
First published September 3, 2001
5 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
About the author
Lindsay Clarke
34 books40 followersLindsay Clarke is a British novelist. He was educated at Heath Grammar School in Halifax and at King's College Cambridge. He worked in education for many years, in Africa, America and the UK, before becoming a full-time writer. He currently lives in Somerset with his wife, Phoebe Clare, who is a ceramic artist. Clarke lectures in creative writing at Cardiff University, and teaches writing workshops in London and Bath. Four radio plays were broadcast by BBC Radio 4, and a number of his articles and reviews have been published in 'Resurgence' and 'The London Magazine.' Lindsay has one daughter from his first marriage.
His novel The Chymical Wedding, partly inspired by the life of Mary Anne Atwood, won the Whitbread Prize in 1989. Clarke's most recent novel is THE WATER THEATRE (published in September 2010 by Alma Booka), of which a review by Antonia Senior in THE TIMES of 28 August said "There is nothing small about this book. It is huge in scope, in energy, in heart...It is difficult to remember a recent book that is at once so beautiful and yet so thought provoking."
His novel The Chymical Wedding, partly inspired by the life of Mary Anne Atwood, won the Whitbread Prize in 1989. Clarke's most recent novel is THE WATER THEATRE (published in September 2010 by Alma Booka), of which a review by Antonia Senior in THE TIMES of 28 August said "There is nothing small about this book. It is huge in scope, in energy, in heart...It is difficult to remember a recent book that is at once so beautiful and yet so thought provoking."
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 21, 2015
What a difference the storyteller makes. This version is quite fun and well-written. Simple, lovely images such as:
“The air tasted fresh at his lips. He knew himself on the vivid brink of things.”
and when (Parzival’s sword) “blade shatters into harmless shards of light.”
The magic isn’t easy for our knights, and there is little mention of religion - even the Grail itself doesn’t take sides. It isn't Christian. It's a gift from the Neutral Angels.
i found it interesting that the ever-philandering Gawain falls deeply truly in love with a beautiful face that treats him like sh*t. She mocks him, insults him endlessly, sends him off to be killed - really, like beheaded (as many have been prior to him). She’s an absolute peach.
Does this say something about our author’s psyche? Or is this so common it has become (western) myth? Is something only desirable if it cannot be obtained? The take-home message, as if straight from Madison Ave: whatever you have, what or whoever you are, is just not good enough. Maxxed out that credit card? Not to worry - it’s mythologically predetermined. Take a good, long look at that life-partner of yours...couldn’t you do better?
Gag.
The original 12th C written version was circa the Crusades, yet our hero does not become "whole" until he is united with his Islamic brother, who is portrayed as a gentle, loving (yet brutally strong of course) man who plays by the same rules of chivalry. Smiley face for that bit.
My final salute is for honesty. We all see the homoeroticism in rugby, in amerikan football, and this author calls it: On pg. 194 - two knights of equal strength are fighting:
“Yet the balance of strength was such that the longer the contest lasted the more the two knights seemed to become a single complex animal strangely warring with itself, or like two impassioned lovers fused in the ever-deepening intimacy of a fierce embrace.”
Yup. Spot on (so to speak).
“The air tasted fresh at his lips. He knew himself on the vivid brink of things.”
and when (Parzival’s sword) “blade shatters into harmless shards of light.”
The magic isn’t easy for our knights, and there is little mention of religion - even the Grail itself doesn’t take sides. It isn't Christian. It's a gift from the Neutral Angels.
i found it interesting that the ever-philandering Gawain falls deeply truly in love with a beautiful face that treats him like sh*t. She mocks him, insults him endlessly, sends him off to be killed - really, like beheaded (as many have been prior to him). She’s an absolute peach.
Does this say something about our author’s psyche? Or is this so common it has become (western) myth? Is something only desirable if it cannot be obtained? The take-home message, as if straight from Madison Ave: whatever you have, what or whoever you are, is just not good enough. Maxxed out that credit card? Not to worry - it’s mythologically predetermined. Take a good, long look at that life-partner of yours...couldn’t you do better?
Gag.
The original 12th C written version was circa the Crusades, yet our hero does not become "whole" until he is united with his Islamic brother, who is portrayed as a gentle, loving (yet brutally strong of course) man who plays by the same rules of chivalry. Smiley face for that bit.
My final salute is for honesty. We all see the homoeroticism in rugby, in amerikan football, and this author calls it: On pg. 194 - two knights of equal strength are fighting:
“Yet the balance of strength was such that the longer the contest lasted the more the two knights seemed to become a single complex animal strangely warring with itself, or like two impassioned lovers fused in the ever-deepening intimacy of a fierce embrace.”
Yup. Spot on (so to speak).
December 24, 2014
Parzival is one of the more famous medieval German works out there. The work has so much depth that some medieval scholars devote most of the research in their life to this work. My professor used to say it's a work that grows with you, and that you never tire of during your life. Of course, she was one of those professors who has devoted her life to medieval research, but the point stands: Parzival is a book that can inspire amazing devotion.
But, it must be said, Parzival is not a very easy read for our times. The book is, understandably, written in a different way than books are written nowadays, which makes the book both hard to translate and comprehend. Students reading Parzival at university generally get an entire course to help them understand the epos. Not everyone however has this chance, and I'm assuming that's where this book comes in.
The title of this book very much emphasizes that this well-known medieval work is retold for a modern audience. I think this is misleading. While I can see where Lindsay Clarke modernized the story, for most people this might not be the case. The text doesn't exactly read like a modern novel, and as the story has only been changed minimally, the book really doesn't have a modern feel to it. As such, I wouldn't say that this book is a grail romance "retold for our time".
What this book is however, is a version of the story condensed to the main plot of the original medieval work, told in prose instead of poetry. If you don't have the chance to take a class on the Parzival, then the story of Wolfram von Eschenbach may at first be rather confusing. For those people, this book might be very good. You get the chance to get familiar with the story, in a relatively light read. Once familiar with the story, a translation of Wolfram von Eschenbach's original epos should be easier to understand. Even if you just want to get familiar with the story of Parzival without wanting to plough through medieval poetry, this is a good book for you.
But you shouldn't go in expecting a modernized version of the Parzival, because that's definitely not what this book has to offer. The story is still a good and influential one, but probably more enjoyable if you're not expecting a modern romance!
But, it must be said, Parzival is not a very easy read for our times. The book is, understandably, written in a different way than books are written nowadays, which makes the book both hard to translate and comprehend. Students reading Parzival at university generally get an entire course to help them understand the epos. Not everyone however has this chance, and I'm assuming that's where this book comes in.
The title of this book very much emphasizes that this well-known medieval work is retold for a modern audience. I think this is misleading. While I can see where Lindsay Clarke modernized the story, for most people this might not be the case. The text doesn't exactly read like a modern novel, and as the story has only been changed minimally, the book really doesn't have a modern feel to it. As such, I wouldn't say that this book is a grail romance "retold for our time".
What this book is however, is a version of the story condensed to the main plot of the original medieval work, told in prose instead of poetry. If you don't have the chance to take a class on the Parzival, then the story of Wolfram von Eschenbach may at first be rather confusing. For those people, this book might be very good. You get the chance to get familiar with the story, in a relatively light read. Once familiar with the story, a translation of Wolfram von Eschenbach's original epos should be easier to understand. Even if you just want to get familiar with the story of Parzival without wanting to plough through medieval poetry, this is a good book for you.
But you shouldn't go in expecting a modernized version of the Parzival, because that's definitely not what this book has to offer. The story is still a good and influential one, but probably more enjoyable if you're not expecting a modern romance!
June 30, 2013
A great way to get to know classical literature. I haven’t read the original 12th century story from Wolfram von Eschenbach, but I believe that Lindsay Clarke’s adaptation is a great one. Without losing a certain feeling of ancient lore the reading is most pleasant and draws beautiful sceneries. We accompany Parzival coming to age in a journey full of adventures imbued by the quest for the Grail. Tragedy, chivalry, and fantasy all come together in this book with unmistakable medieval undertones.
December 20, 2013
I think this is a profound read and as with most deep stuff i read, I feel as if i've just brushed up against its power, which points though stories of knights, fights and femmes to an understanding of the woundedness of the human race, to a mythological appreciation of the cosmos and probably its origin. No wonder Wagner chose to write 4.5 hours of operatic music around Parsifal's little road trip.
February 7, 2019
I have long been interested in the Parzival legend as well as the many tales of the round table of
King Arthur and his knights. I am fascinated by the account of a particular moment in Parzival's adventure when he fails to ask the key question and he suffers the consequences for not doing so.
I once, some years ago, attended a lecture by Joseph Campbell where he commented on the quite common relevance to our own lives when we fail to ask the right question. Often only discovering
the the impact of this lack of asking much later when the opportunity had long passed.
I found this retelling to be lively, thoughtful and entertaining.
King Arthur and his knights. I am fascinated by the account of a particular moment in Parzival's adventure when he fails to ask the key question and he suffers the consequences for not doing so.
I once, some years ago, attended a lecture by Joseph Campbell where he commented on the quite common relevance to our own lives when we fail to ask the right question. Often only discovering
the the impact of this lack of asking much later when the opportunity had long passed.
I found this retelling to be lively, thoughtful and entertaining.
December 17, 2020
One of the most inspiring books i've enjoyed reading. An absolute 'must' if you are a fan of Robert Bly or Joseph Campbell's work!
June 6, 2016
I have quibbles with the way this book was presented. On the cover it states that the book is “a holy grail romance retold for our time.” To me, this implied that it was written in a modern style and highly novelized. There is no foreword, no introduction.
The book is actually an adaptation of the medieval writer Wolfram von Eschenbach's grail work of the same name, using modern language and editing some aspects for length and novel-like structure. The style is still very much a medieval tale, though, with that feel to it. There's an afterword explaining all this, which really should have been at the front, as it's important for the reading, I think.
This isn't the type of thing I enjoy reading, Arthurian stuff is not of much interest to me. My dad gave it to me, so I thought I'd give it a go (it also wasn't that long). I didn't get into at all, though I'd have found it FAR more interesting if I'd read that afterword first. The author talks about Wolfram's unique text and how he feels it influenced more modern writing.
The book is actually an adaptation of the medieval writer Wolfram von Eschenbach's grail work of the same name, using modern language and editing some aspects for length and novel-like structure. The style is still very much a medieval tale, though, with that feel to it. There's an afterword explaining all this, which really should have been at the front, as it's important for the reading, I think.
This isn't the type of thing I enjoy reading, Arthurian stuff is not of much interest to me. My dad gave it to me, so I thought I'd give it a go (it also wasn't that long). I didn't get into at all, though I'd have found it FAR more interesting if I'd read that afterword first. The author talks about Wolfram's unique text and how he feels it influenced more modern writing.
December 23, 2023
Foi para mim uma forte desilusão a forma de contar desta história, provavelmente pois com o surgir de autores como George Martin, acredito que a história pode ser contada de forma mais empolgante e abanar os preconceitos que podem existir relativos ao recortar do Graal.
Currently reading
May 1, 2009So far I am enjoying how Clarke retells this ancient fable of the Soul and its journey.
May 10, 2009
Turns out that the reason why Parzival's half brother is Two toned, I later found out on the Discovery channel, is because he has two sets of DNA!!!!!!
January 13, 2016
Surpreendida pela oferta, não imaginava o meu irmão a oferecer-me este género, mas adorei a história, o Santo Graal será mesmo assim um mistério contínuo, por muito que se escreva sobre ele.
January 13, 2017
livro que obriga a ler com concentração para conseguirmos interpretar a fábula. recomendo
January 24, 2017
I read this because I was applying to teach at a school where the high schoolers read "Parzival." This is an interpretation of the original and I LOVED it.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews