Since its rediscovery for the modern reader approximately one hundred and fifty years ago, Wolfram's 'Parzival' has attracted a vast number of commentators and interpreters and has in consequence become one of the most controversial works of European literature. Even though Wolframs's other works are equally outstanding in originality and artistic distinction, the lion's share of Wolfram criticism has come to be devoted to 'Parzival'. This study attempts to isolate leading themes and fundamental meanings of the work by detailed observation and description of Wolfram's poetic craftsmanship, and by reference to the poet's historical background and to his audience. Particular concerns here were to try and elucidate further the difficult and problematic core of the work, the so-called Book IX, and to gain insight in to Wolfram's independence as a poet.

The Author: Marianne Wynn graduated in English and German at the University of Melbourne where she wrote her M.A. thesis on Middle English poetry. She then went to Cambridge and took her Ph.D. in medieval German literature. She has taught German language and literature, both medieval and modern, at the University of Melbourne, at Girton College, Cambridge, and at King’s College and Westfield College of the University of London. She was elected Professor of German in the University of London, and is now Emeritus Professor of German in that university. She is also Professor h.c. of Medieval Studies at the University of Giessen.