Cei and the Arthurian Legend (Arthurian Studies, 18)

by Linda Gowans

`No Arthurian critic will be able to ignore this book which gathers together so much diverse material and skilfully brings out unexpected links between versions widely separated in time and country of origin. MODERN LANGUAGE REVIEW

`No Arthurian critic will be able to ignore this book which gathers together so much diverse material and skilfully brings out unexpected links between versions widely separated in time and country of origin.' MODERN LANGUAGE REVIEW Cei is one of the most puzzling figures in the development of the Arthurian a hero beyond compare in the early Welsh sources, his appearances in later Arthurian literature are frequently associated with comic defeatin combat, objectionable outspokenness, and sometimes with more serious misdeeds. This study assesses Cei from his native Welsh context to his role in the romances of Chrétien de Troyes and later developments, in which the authorlooks at the portrayal of Cei in a selection of medievalContinental, Welsh and English works, before moving closer to the present day and the rich heritage of English ballad and Gaelic folktale; the ending offers something of a surprise. This account of the long and varied career of one of Arthur's closest associates shows how a sympathetic approach to Cei can shed new light on some particularly controversial aspects of Arthurian studies.

Genres: Arthurian, Nonfiction

214 pages, Hardcover

First published June 2, 1988

Reviews

[Nicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll be writing my MA dissertation on the much maligned figure of Sir Kay, and the way his character has changed and been treated through time. This book does half my work for me, focusing on the impact of the Welsh tradition in wonderful detail, but it sticks to the medieval period. Despite having read a lot of the Welsh stuff, this teased out details I hadn't thought about, and attempted to answer questions about Chrétien de Troyes' sources.

Very very useful, and worth reading -- it's surprisingly fun to read, as well as informative, and provides a lot of context so that I could follow the argument even in the cases where I haven't read the text being discussed.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is what I think of as good old-fashioned Arthurian scholarship. There's a lot of tracing of sources and an unabashed fondness for the author's hero. The scope is truly huge, from the early medieval Welsh 'Pa Gur' to twentieth century Nova Scotia, with obligatory stops at Geoffrey of Monmouth and Chrétien de Troyes in between.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Closely examines the history and evolution of Sir Cei (Sir Kay), one of the only mainstays of Arthurian myth from beginning to end. The author's revelations about the abuse and abandonment of this once important character are astounding.