Parzival: The Quest of the Grail Knight [Paperback]

Katherine Paterson (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

Acclaimed storyteller Katherine Paterson breathes new life into this classic tale of action, adventure, and romance. Raised in the wilderness, Parzival knows nothing of his destiny as the Grail Knight--the one who is fated to seek the sacred vessel of hope and eternal life. To succeed in his quest, Parzival must struggle against countless obstacles. His triumphant story is one that will move readers to joy and despair, laughter and tears.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Paterson (Bridge to Terabithia) performs a service for young readers and for Wolfram von Eschenbach's 13th-century German epic with this supple adaptation. Parzival, born of royal blood but raised as a peasant, leaves his humble home as a boy to seek adventure. His nobility is immediately recognized in Arthur's court, where, despite his lack of gallantry, he wins the Red Knight's armor in a duel. Still a green youth, he stumbles from one adventure to another, learning lessons about chivalry, compassion and God's grace. During a quest to find the keeper of the Holy Grail and break a curse plaguing the mysterious "Wild Mountain," Parzival commits a nearly tragic error, but in his struggle to atone for his mistake, he sheds his childlike innocence and grows into a respected hero. The author judiciously trims all but the most essential branches from the legend, at the same time amplifying Wolfram's humor, irony and strong Christian message. Her economy of language propels the reader forward (e.g., when Parzival's mother explains God to him, "Why, Dear Boy, God is he who is King of Heaven. He has made the world and in his love took human form to save it"). For readers enamored of Karen Cushman's Catherine, Called Birdy or medieval-type fantasies, this fast-paced, highly accessible romance could easily prove a gateway to the literature of the Middle Ages. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5 Up?Paterson brings her considerable talent to this retelling of the story of Parzival (Parsifal, Percevel, etc.), the Grail Knight, working from Wolfram von Eschenbach's 13th-century epic poem. Nearly 800 years old, the story has freshness, humor, grace, and depth. In the spate of Arthurian adaptations for children, Parzival has been overlooked in favor of Merlin, Arthur, Lancelot, and Gawain. Furthermore, the story will be new to Wagner fans, as his Parsifal bears minimal resemblance to this one. Paterson's Parzival is the traditional fool, raised in the woods by his mother, sent out questing in rags on a swayback nag worthy of Don Quixote. In his bumbling progress, he goes through humiliation, trial, and much error, loss, and degradation to the brink of despair and loss of faith, before attaining the Grail. Paterson clarifies much of the Christian doctrine that is the basis of the story, but she is never dull or pedantic. As an additional help, she provides readers with a cast of characters, annotated, before beginning her story. Background notes appear at the end. The author's fans, who are myriad, will enjoy this book and look forward to those Grail stories, including that of Lohengrin, which Paterson hints may follow.?Helen Gregory, Grosse Pointe Public Library, MI
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Paperback: 127 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (April 3, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0141305738
• ISBN-13: 978-0141305738
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #564,300 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #55 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Literature > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths > Arthurian
  • #80 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > Fiction > Medieval

More About the Author

Katherine Paterson has twice won both the Newbery Medal and the National Book Award. She received the 1998 Hans Christian Andersen Medal as well as the 2006 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award for the body of her work. An active promoter of reading and literacy, she lives with her husband, John, in Barre, Vermont. They have four children and seven grandchildren. Visit Katherine Paterson on her web site at www.terabithia.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fresh, enjoyable retelling, August 11, 2000

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Parzival: The Quest of the Grail Knight (Paperback)

"Parzival" is an excellent story, the story of a young man who learns about God, hope, faith and the will to continue.

Parzival's mother has kept her sheltered son from knowing about knights, but when Parzival runs into three on a road, he can't be content until he is one. He sets off for Camelot, determined to follow his dead father's footsteps. But he soon discovers that knighthood is not all chivalry and flashing armor. Despite humiliation, dishonor, despair, and a curse, Parzival's innocence and goodness carry him through to the end.

Paterson chose to write this story in formal prose, but that doesn't keep the hero's appeal from shining through. Parzival perhaps understands such commands as "Thou Shalt Not Kill" best--when defeating a foe, he gives them a chance to redeem themselves, and beats himself up mentally when he does something careless. Readers ache for him when he is laughed at and then cursed, or refuses to get rid of the shabby clothes his mother made him. Readers will also cheer when he makes up for his past, innocent wrongs.

In a bookworld that lacks good, old-fashioned heroes, Parzival is a fearless guy that every boy will want to be like, and a role model that parents will adore. This legend is great, and the retelling is even better.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perzival,And The Quest For The Grail Knight, October 16, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Parzival: The Quest of the Grail Knight (Hardcover)

I really liked this book it had tons of neat stuff in it. If you like King Arthur, then you will love this book it has lots of excitement in it.And it starts out as a boy who doesn't know what knights and dragons or any of that good stuff is. And he finds out he is king and goes to get his kingdom back and he ends up going on a quest for the Holy Grail.
I really liked this book .it is fun to read and has lots of potential so I recommend it to all ages it was fun for me to read and was really bone chilling and the edge of your seat kind of book.
I loved this book because it was about knights and dragons and other strange and unusual things cause that's is what I'm into. This book is a good book for all ages and I recommend it for everyone.
So sit back and relax and read a good book Perzival, and the quest for the grail knight.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Parzival, October 11, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Parzival: The Quest of the Grail Knight (Hardcover)

The book Parzival is about a young man who has a desire to become a knight. He goes to King Arthur's court and then becomes a knight and a king. He goes on a quest for the Holy Grail after he lets down a sick king. He encounters many adventures and learns a lot about god and who god is. He finally goes back to the king that he let down many years before and he finds the Holy Grail and heals the king.
I think the book Parzival is a very good book. It was exiting and suspenseful. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn about King Arthur. I really enjoyed this book and I hope you will to.