Call him Perceval, Parzival, Parsifas, Perlesvaus or even Peredur. He answers to all these names, though none precisely captures the identity of this elusive hero of Arthurian legend. Variously portrayed as knight-errant, chivalric paragon, regent, runner-up, fool, and failure, he is a character subject to numerous and ever-changing interpretations. Ignorant of his true name and lineage at the outset of his quest, Perceval carries this ambivalence throughout his journey, which follows many divergent paths. Editors Arthur Groos and Norris J. Lacy highlight the character's initial naivete as the basic element of his individual history and a crucial factor in his longevity as a mythic hero. They have collected fourteen classic, original, and newly translated essays that investigate the figure of Perceval as he appears in major medieval traditions (with special attention to the works of Chretien de Troyes and Wolfram von Eschenbach) and in modern literature and film. The volume includes an extended introduction examining the character's evolution from the earliest tales to recent films and novels. Students, scholars, and anyone interested in medieval legend will find a wealth of insight into the mystery of this most poignant and perplexing of Arthurian heroes.