The High History of the Holy Graal

The High History of the Holy Graal is a book by Sebastian Evans, first published in 1898. It presents in English a long, late-medieval French romance, often associated with the Perlesvaus tradition, following Perceval and other knights on a severe and sometimes uncanny Grail quest.

Unlike the gentler Grail romances, the narrative is vivid, episodic, and morally exacting, combining miraculous visions with harsh adventure and an insistent concern for spiritual testing and judgment. It may be read both as high romance and as a darker expression of Arthurian piety.

Long valued by scholars and serious readers, the work reveals a broader and less familiar range of Grail literature. Its uncompromising scenes of chivalry, wonder, and penitence make it essential for those exploring Arthurian legend, medieval romance, the development of Grail mythology, and the use of visionary narrative to examine faith, honour, and consequence.