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GRAIL LEGEND
by Jung, E & Von Franz, M L
ISBN: 0691002371
Publisher: Princeton University Press
The Holy Grail and its quest is a legend that has had a powerful impact on our
civilization and culture. The Grail itself is an ancient Celtic symbol of plenty as
well as a Christian symbol of redemption and eternal life, the chalice that
caught the blood of the crucified Christ. The story of the Grail sheds profound
light on man`s search for the supreme value of life, for that which makes life
most meaningful.
Writing in a clear and readable style, two leading women of the Jungian
school of psychology present this legend as a living myth that is profoundly
relevant to modern life. We encounter such universal figures as the Fool (the
naive young Perceval), the Wise Old Man (the Hermit Gornemanz), the Virgin
Maiden (Blancheflor), the Loathly Damsel, and such important themes as the
Waste Land, the Trinity, and the vessel of the Grail. Weaving together narrative
and interpretation, the authors show us how the legend reflects not only
fundamental human problems but also the dramatic psychic events that form the
background of our Christian culture. Emma Jung -- analyst, writer, and wife of
the famous psychologist C. G. Jung -- researched and worked on this book for
thirty years, until her death in 1955. Marie-Louise von Franz, also eminent in
the field of depth psychology, completed the project.
The Grail Legend is a beautifully sustained application of Jungian theory to a
whole story rather than merely to isolated motifs, or archetypes. The work is far
better researched than many other Jungian studies, and it is written with a
spritely, charming touch. A delightful volume.
-- ROBERT SEGAL, University of Lancaster, editor of Jung on Mythology and The
Gnostic Jung
Emma Jung was a lifelong student of Arthurian mythology and the author of
Animus and Anima. Marie-Louise von Franz, who passed away in 1998, made
major contributions to Jungian analysis and the study of myth. Her many books
include Individuation in Fairy Tales, Number and Time, and Puer Aeternus. She is
also coauthor of Man and His Symbols.
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