The Story of the Grail: Symbolism, Propaganda and Myths

The Grail is a fascinating symbol, which has influenced the literature and culture of the Middle Ages after 1180 like no other. The concept stood for a double quest: for the material sacred object and for the spiritual in itself. The life of King Arthur and the adventures of his knights of the Round Table together form the keystone of an extraordinary literary construction in which the miraculous, theology, love, knightly virtues and war are mixed.

After the publication of the very first Grail romance by a French top poet commissioned by the Count of Flanders, a great variety of Grails developed. Today, new ones are still being invented, such as the bloodline secret of Jesus and Mary Magdalene in the Da Vinci Code. The universal myth indeed contains all the ingredients to continually inspire people and is deeply rooted in the collective imagination worldwide.

Yves Van Buyten and Willy Vanderzeypen place the Grail myth in its medieval context and return to the original texts. They offer the reader keys to effortlessly decode the symbolism and metaphors in the Grail romances. They then dig deeper into the ideological propaganda hidden in the scenarios, which is less innocent than it seems at first sight. It is no coincidence that the main cycle of the Grail romances runs synchronously with the persecution of the Cathars in Flanders and the crusades against the patrons of the Cathars in the South.

The authors also investigate who was historically responsible for the production of later Grail myths, linked to Montségur, the Cathars, the Templars, Leonardo da Vinci, Pastor Saunière of Rennes-le-Château, the militant Occitanists or even the interest of the German Nazi regime.

Since 2003, the authors have been working together intensively and have published several books and many articles on the subject of the Central Middle Ages (1000-1300). They are in constant contact with an international selection of serious researchers. One of them has been a guide in the South of France for many years and in this book he takes you to Montségur. The author duo believes that our fascinating Western history and the most recent discoveries about the Middle Ages can enrich everyone.