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The Discovery of the Grail
Andrew Sinclair
Century hardback, 314 pages, £16.99 
Review by David Clark (1998)

A survey of Holy Grail myths and legends, taking in an attempt at a complete history and some assessment of theorised grails. Sinclair follows, in his illuminating, scholarly yet fascinating way, Grail mythology around Babylon, Greece, Scandinavia, Rome, the Middle East, the USA, Nazi Germany, Europe, Britain, and, basically, all over the place. Some familiar themes crop up as he takes paths both material and ideal, looking into, just for example, Arthurian literature, the Saint Elizabeth Cup of Egypt, the Grail said to be hidden in Rosslyn Chapel and sought by Rudolf Hess, and new aspects of the Grail’s appearance and depiction in stories of Mary Magdalene. Sinclair is strong on history and ritual.

However, he also takes a personal, idiosyncratic path. Which is good; I’d rather read a well-argued and researched version than the shallow survey this book would have been in the hands of a lesser writer. He investigates the chalice carved on Scottish tombstones, leading him to the Templars and the history of his own family, building as he does on his own previous work and that of others. 

I wish, though, that more had been made of recent events. How could he leave out, particularly, the cup investigated by Graham Phillips in The Search for the Grail (Century, 1995)? Phillips’ book managed to prompt the Vatican to issue a statement of denial. Worthy of discussion, I would have thought. I hope this isn't a sign of a gentlemen's agreement to respect each others territory. I'm left wondering what else might be left out. With that proviso, OK as a survey. •

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