Parzival: The Quest of the Grail Knight

Gr 5-8--With humor and lilting language, this classic coming-of-age story recounts the physical and spiritual trials of a naive boy who yearns to become a knight of Arthur's court. The origin of the Fisher King legend adds a note of poignancy to this slim saga about doing the right thing at all costs.

Gr. 5-8. This compact volume tells the tale of Parzival, a lad raised apart from the world of chivalry. When he discovers his ignorance and leaves his sheltered home to become a knight, he goes to Arthur's court but leaves at once to pursue his path of valor. The story follows the young man through several adventures but centers on the challenge to Parzival when he is received by the Angler (Fisher King) and dines in the presence of the Holy Grail. Although he sees that the Angler suffers from some "great pain or sorrow," Parzival hesitates to ask the cause since he's been warned to restrain his curiosity. Yet because he fails to ask the Angler the reason for his profound suffering, Parzival is dishonored and doomed to wander until he can undo the wrong. Throughout the book, many characters appear whose tales are not fully told. Paterson notes that the story is based on a 25,000-line epic poem, and she does a fine job of making the elements of a much longer story fit the confines of a smaller one. Readers will find the annotated list of characters helpful, if they trouble to consult it. A dignified telling of one version of the grail story.

Copyright 1998 Booklist, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 5 Up--Paterson brings her considerable talent to this retelling of the story of Parzival (Parsifal, Percevel, etc.), the Grail Knight, working from Wolfram von Eschenbach's 13th-century epic poem. Nearly 800 years old, the story has freshness, humor, grace, and depth. In the spate of Arthurian adaptations for children, Parzival has been overlooked in favor of Merlin, Arthur, Lancelot, and Gawain. Furthermore, the story will be new to Wagner fans, as his Parsifal bears minimal resemblance to this one. Paterson's Parzival is the traditional fool, raised in the woods by his mother, sent out questing in rags on a swayback nag worthy of Don Quixote. In his bumbling progress, he goes through humiliation, trial, and much error, loss, and degradation to the brink of despair and loss of faith, before attaining the Grail. Paterson clarifies much of the Christian doctrine that is the basis of the story, but she is never dull or pedantic. As an additional help, she provides readers with a cast of characters, annotated, before beginning her story. Background notes appear at the end. The author's fans, who are myriad, will enjoy this book and look forward to those Grail stories, including that of Lohengrin, which Paterson hints may follow.--Helen Gregory, Grosse Pointe Public Library, MI

Copyright 1998 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Paterson (Bridge to Terabithia) performs a service for young readers and for Wolfram von Eschenbach's 13th-century German epic with this supple adaptation. Parzival, born of royal blood but raised as a peasant, leaves his humble home as a boy to seek adventure. His nobility is immediately recognized in Arthur's court, where, despite his lack of gallantry, he wins the Red Knight's armor in a duel. Still a green youth, he stumbles from one adventure to another, learning lessons about chivalry, compassion and God's grace. During a quest to find the keeper of the Holy Grail and break a curse plaguing the mysterious "Wild Mountain," Parzival commits a nearly tragic error, but in his struggle to atone for his mistake, he sheds his childlike innocence and grows into a respected hero. The author judiciously trims all but the most essential branches from the legend, at the same time amplifying Wolfram's humor, irony and strong Christian message. Her economy of language propels the reader forward (e.g., when Parzival's mother explains God to him, "Why, Dear Boy, God is he who is King of Heaven. He has made the world and in his love took human form to save it"). For readers enamored of Karen Cushman's Catherine, Called Birdy or medieval-type fantasies, this fast-paced, highly accessible romance could easily prove a gateway to the literature of the Middle Ages. Ages 10-up. (Mar.)

Copyright 1998 Publisher’s Weekly, LLC Used with permission.