A review of POerceval and Gawain in Dark Mirrors

Perceval and Gawain in Dark Mirrors; Reflections and reflexivity in Chretien de Troyes’s Conte de Graal

To really enjoy this book you have have either just finished reading the Conte de Graal because you enjoy the Arthurian legends, just rediscovered the college book you kept for some unknown reason and it contains the Conte or you are determined to reacquaint yourself with Chretien’s unfinished masterpiece by approaching it in a sideways manner.  If none of the above apply there is always the Internet.  A quick Google of Conte de Graal revealed a number of excellent summaries.  Indeed the book itself provides an excellent review.  

The subtitle of Perceval and Gawain in Dark Mirrors is  "Reflections and Reflexivity in Chretien de Troyes’s Conte de Graal" and is much more, shall I say it, reflective of what the book examines. Exploring which portions of the tale reflect other portions, adumbrate some activity, comment on the brilliant lights that reflect off armor.

A close study of the preface and the Prologue of the book will stand you in good stead as you embark on this journey.  I leave you with the following quote from the preface: “In nearly all narrative loci in Chretien’s last romance–episodes, discrete segments of episodes–are junctures of a variety of specular, speculative, and spectacular strands that run throughout the poem’s texture.”  Have fun.