Arthurian Literature XIV

The principal article in this issue examines in detail a group of heraldic manuscripts: an armorial of the Knights of the Round Table, with a number of their arms reproduced in full colour, the treatise on Arthurian tournaments by Jacques d'Armagnac, and the treatise on blazon by Clément Prinsault. A scholarly edition of the two treatises is provided, and the texts are discussed in an introductory section emphasising the importance of Arthurian heraldry. The arms of 150 knights are painted in the manuscripts and blazoned, and 59 of them are reproduced in 10 pages of full-colour plates. Other articles address the underlying theme of the Conte de Graal, in which Alexander is seen as representing the negative aspects of charity; Robert de Boron's endeavours to produce a coherent Arthuriad; and correspondences between the Arthurian tellings of two Old French authors, Manessier and Gerbert de Montreuil.The contributors are: BARBARA SARGENT-BAUR, FANNI BOGDANOW, LOUISE D. STEVENS and LISA JEFFERSON.