David Blamires – författare

The Book of the Perfect Life crystallized the mystical experience of the late Middle Ages, yet still speaks to seekers today. Martin Luther wrote of this 14th century devotional work that "next to the Bible and St. Augustine, no other book has come to my attention from which I have learned-and desired to learn-more concerning God, Christ, man and what all things are." Theologica Deutsch-the title this work has most commonly appeared under- has been through 190 editions in ten languages throughout its 600-year history. Now drawing on the latest German critical edition of the work, David Blamires brings us the definitive English translation of this classic mystical work, The Book of the Perfect Life.

Wolfram's Parzival is one of the great medieval romances, but the complexities and obscurities of source, language and the Grail symbol have led to a virtual neglect by scholars of the problems of structure and characterisation. Medieval characterisation tended towards idealisation, symbolism and the view that the individual could be considered a member of a class or type; in Wolfram however the beginnings of individual characterisation can be seen. This 1966 book studies the types and techniques of character-portrayal in Parzival and of the emergence of the idea of individuality. Dr Blamires analyses each of the main characters - Gahmuret, Herzeloyde, Parzival, Gawan and Feirefiz - and shows how Wolfram presents them and the variety of methods he uses. From this approach he deals with the main problems the poem presents and brings out its closeness and complexity of texture.