A Bibliography of Modern Arthuriana 1500-2000 by Ann F. Howey, Stephen R. Reimer

Abstract

MLR, 103.2, 2oo8 493 thatGawain is particularly associated with geographical areas which relate him to theWelsh hero Owain Glyn D'wr. Both represent themarginalized, associated in the literary and historiographical recordwith nature, magic/prophecy, and women. Whereas romances-and histories-mostly imagine centralized tradition,Owain and Gawain are 'local heroes'. Martin Connolly reveals the promise-postponement theme in The Awntyrs of Arthur tobe a popular one, with an English version tobe found in fourteenth-century sources. Awntyrs therefore represents a sophisticated version of a 'known' narrative. This is obviously a device which contemporary writers on the conflict between the secular and the spiritual found very useful. Norris J.Lacy studies identities bymeans of the character of Gauvain in the French romance L'Atre Perilleux, detailing the erasure ofGauvain's identityand his quest to recover it, which isalso a 'resurrection'. This is followed by Fanni Bogdanow's article on the 'handsome coward' theme, dis cussing refusals ofGalahad to fight.Bogdanow links thiswith thehumility specified as a knightly quality by St Bernard ofClairvaux. The difference between the appar ent and the actual demonstrates that true courage is a function of the inner, rather than theoutward, self.Tony Grand's article, examining thepossibility of a laterdate for the gift of a Perlesvaus manuscript to Jean de Nesle, isvery interesting in that it illustrates theextraordinariness of 'lesser' characters inmedieval history.These were real-lifeArthurian knights, theowners and readers of the legend and itsvariants, and theywere to be found all across Europe. In the finalarticle Robert Gossedge notes the importance, seriousness, and quality ofArthurian material from Scotland, Wales, and Cornwall in the early nineteenth century. Thomas Love Peacock was well connected toWelsh literary circles, and The Misfortunes ofElphin was translated from Welsh. Peacock used his translation ofWelsh material to challenge contemporary, Anglocentric, historiography. Welsh historians liked it. The value of thisbook lies in its individual contributions. These are not arranged inas satisfactory away as theycould have been, with some obvious connectivity being missed. The foreword does not communicate these relationships effectively,but the volume contains a variety of small gems, waiting to interestand inspire the enquiring reader. UNIVERSITY OF HULL LESLEY COOTE A Bibliography of Modern Arthuriana 1500-2000. By ANN F. HOWEY and STEPHEN R. REIMER. Cambridge: Brewer. 2oo6. ii+774pp. ?I25;$i8o. ISBN 978-I 84384-o68-8. The scope of this bibliography is an excitingly and commendably wide one, which makes the volume extremely useful and very welcome. It brings together biblio graphical items fromSpenser's Faerie Queene toFuqua's KingArthur, byway ofVan Morrison and The Moody Blues, in a 'one-stop' bibliography ofArthurian influences, references, and reworkings, a book that isunique in its field. The compilers' rationale admits that the definitions with which theyhave had to deal are difficult and contested ones. 'Arthurian Fiction', the stated content, is de fined as 'imaginative re-workings of the legend' (p. ix), although this is extended to references in songs as well as to longer works. Only material stored and available in libraries or other retrievable forms is listed. This has a practical purpose for the user of a bibliography inbook form, which cannot be easily updated when material is withdrawn from thepublic domain. The definition of narratives with plot structures which are demonstrably Arthurian has to be a subjective decision. However, that is 494 Reviews a danger inherent in bibliographical productions of this kind, and the authors cover thisby thedescriptive material which accompanies each entry. The entries are arranged, conventionally, in alphabetic order of author's surname/ familyname (if this isknown), and are divided according to thenature of themedium employed; hence sections on literature,on film,television and radio, onmusic, on fine art and graphic design, and on digital gaming. In addition to conventional bibliogra phical entries, giving name, date, author, editions, and other publication information, each entry is fullyannotated. The notes give not only an indication of plotlines, but also,where this is judged tobe relevant to the subject, information about theauthor's other works, and the context of thework (i.e. if it isone of a series, part of a collec tion, or relates in some way to other works, which may ormay not be listed in the bibliography). It...