The Lost Book of the Grail
The Sevenfold Path of the Grail and the Restoration of the Faery Accord
by Caitlín Matthews; John Matthews
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Pub Date Jul 16 2019 | Archive Date May 31 2019
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Description
• Includes the complete text of the Grail prequel, The Elucidation of the Grail, a 13th-century poem newly translated by Gareth Knight and Caitlín Matthews
• Examines the forgotten story of the Faery Wars and the role of Well Maidens in the Grail story
• Discusses the Seven Guardians of the Stories, the Grail Kings and Anti-Grail Kings, the Rich Company, the Courts of Joy, and the otherworldly Land of Women
Unveiling the long-forgotten prequel to the Grail quest stories, Caitlín and John Matthews examine The Elucidation of the Grail, a forgotten 13th-century French text, and show how it offers the key to understanding the sevenfold path of the Grail and the deeper stories beneath the Christian Grail narrative.
Beginning with a new translation of The Elucidation by foremost esotericist Gareth Knight and Caitlín Matthews, the authors provide a complete commentary on the poem, revealing a startling alternative cause of the Wasteland and the Grail quest, one which has a profound resonance with our own times. They examine the forgotten story of the Faery Wars and explain the Faery Accord, an agreement that once existed between humans and the Faery and upon which the spiritual and physical health of the land depends. The offering of the Grail and its regenerative powers by the Maidens of the Wells--Faery women--was part of this Accord. King Amangons and his men violated the Accord, through their abuse of the Well Maidens and other evil actions, causing the wasting of the land. The Knights of King Arthur seek to avenge the Well Maidens and rebirth the Grail to restore access to the lost paradisiacal “Courts of Joy” held in ancestral memory. On their quest, they encounter the Rich Company whose greed keeps the Knights occupied in long wars of attrition, yet their quest to restore the generous hospitality of the Wells--the true Grail, the Faery Grail--continues.
In addition to the Faery Accord and Knights’ quest, the authors examine the Seven Guardians of the Stories, the Rich Fisher, the Courts of Joy and paradise lost, and the otherworldly Land of Women. They show how this lost book of the Grail reveals themes familiar to the modern world and offers hope of healing the rift between the worlds of Faery and human as well as restoration of our natural belonging to the land.
Advance Praise
“Any book written by these authors is worth noting but this is a real tour de force. The Lost Book of the Grail takes us right into the heart of the Grail tradition. It addresses a key but very cryptic text ironically called the Elucidation and step by step we are invited into its secret heart. We are shown the central act of wounding which devastates the union between human beings the sacred land and the Sidhe who are guardians of the secret life of the land. We are shown the branches of story that lead us into the restoration of the flowing life and love that are the hallmarks of the presence of the Grail. There is so much in this book that it will I am sure become a classic work for all who seek to heal the wasteland and seek the Grail. Thoroughly recommended.” Ian Rees Psychotherapist, Director of the Annwn Foundation
“This book is a wonderful new exploration of a little-known work in the rich cycle of Grail legends, which elucidates with a new translation and commentary. A product of scholarly work that shows great erudition, it is also a pleasure to read and easily accessible to the general public. Caitlín and John Matthews are unparalleled experts on the Grail and Arthurian legend and this work shows a whole range of insight that comes from a lifetime of study.” Dr. Krešimir Vuković, Postdoctoral Fellow, Catholic University of Croatia
“I set out to read this new viewpoint and found myself on an unexpected journey. You do not just read this book, you experience it as a seeker. Read it slowly and savor each page as it is a map into the mystery of mysteries. A literary tour de force by the authors.” Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki, author of The Shining Paths
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781620558294 |
| PRICE | $24.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 352 |
Links
Featured Reviews
Librarian 431790
I liked this well researched book about a theme I'm really interested in.
I appreciated the style of writing, the clarity of exposition, and the book is organized.
I look forward to reading other books by this authors.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.
Vivienne O, Reviewer
My thanks to Inner Traditions for an eARC via NetGalley of Caitlin & John Matthews’ ‘The Lost Book of the Grail’ in exchange for an honest review.
The subtitle of this work is: ‘The Sevenfold Path of the Grail and the Restoration of the Faery Accord’. Over the years I have read a number of the books by the Matthews and have confidence in their scholarship and dedication to making materials linked to the Arthurian and Grail mythic traditions available and accessible. Their work is never dry.
Central to this work is a forgotten prequel to the better known Grail quest tales: The Elucidation of the Grail, a 13th-century French poem, newly translated by noted esotericist Gareth Knight and Caitlin Matthews. This poem is accompanied by commentary and analysis.
They make it clear that this book “is not about a quest to find such a historic relic or archaeological artifact, but about something much greater, since the Grail is not an object to be excavated and finally curated in a museum. It is rather about the ever-living hallow or sacred vessel that passes in and out of time and place, but which abides beyond both, in eternity and space. In this book we are concerned with the myth.” Powerful words!
Within they explore how the Elucidation relates to themes that have been informed their work within the Western Esoteric Tradition such as the Courts of Joy and the Maidens of the Wells as well as the connection with Faerie.
The way in which the mythology of the Grail has developed through texts and oral traditions is also explored stressing an awareness of the differences between the modern and medieval consciousness.
They confidently blend their scholarship with a style that is happy to relate the development of the Grail mythos within the Western tradition to more recent examples including J.R.R. Tolkien’s extensive writings on Middle Earth and the way that the original 1960s Star Trek series has expanded to create a modern mythos.
This is an intense work and as such is a book that is more suited to be referred to over time rather than a quick read. I felt that I had only grazed the surface with my initial reading.
I understand that an audiobook edition is being published in the near future narrated by Caitlin Matthews. This is certainly a format that I welcome.
Jamie B, Reviewer
I've long been a fan of John and Caitlin Matthews' writings on pagan topics (some 20 years). They have an excellent way of combining scholarship and spirituality that appeals to both my head and heart. This book is no exception. It is about a recently discovered text called the Elucidation, which is an early medieval version of the Grail myth. This version of the story shows the ties of the story to the pre-Christian world. The authors not only present the text itself, but give the context for it within the greater body of Grail literature. They analyze the text and also further look at the themes brought up within the text, giving insight into how its ideas can resonate with personal spiritual practice. This adds so much to what we think of as the Grail story. Another thought-provoking look at the Celtic roots of culture and spirituality by these authors.
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