French Literature Reviews - 2026

A. Bekhouche, Conquering the Grail
Other Literary Studies

Alicia Bekhouche, Conquering the Grail

Paris: Editions Orizons, "Universities / Comparisons" series, 2013.

238 p.

EAN 9782296088511

22.00 EUR

Publisher's Description:

While the medieval chivalric quest demands incomparable rigor and purity of soul and body to be worthy of the revelation of the mysteries of the Holy Chalice, the heroes of popular literature and mass culture gain access to its secrets through simplified investigations. From the Holy Grail to the Grail, from literature to paraliterature, from the Bible to television, this work seeks to highlight the various aspects of these cultural transfers.

Alicia Bekhouche studies the manifestations of the Grail in popular literature and mass culture. She recently published "The Quest for the Grail in the World of Children" in Médiévalités enfantines, du passé défini au passé indéfini (Presses Universitaires de Franche-Comté, 2011).

This study situates itself within the field of reception studies and medievalism, examining how ancient myths survive and transform in the modern era. By tracing the journey of the Holy Grail from medieval Arthurian romances to contemporary television and paraliterature—works falling outside the traditional literary canon—the book explores the mechanics of cultural transfer. It illustrates how a sacred, highly demanding spiritual quest has been democratized and simplified to suit the tastes of a mass audience, transforming a complex religious mystery into an accessible investigative puzzle.

Conquering the Grail offers valuable insights for scholars and students of comparative literature, medievalism, and media studies. It addresses crucial questions about the persistence of myth in secular societies and the ways in which mass media repurposes classical heritage. Readers interested in the evolution of Arthurian legends, children's literature, and the boundaries between high art and popular culture will find this analysis highly illuminating. It provides a clear framework for understanding how ancient narratives continue to shape modern imagination across different media platforms.