Review of “Parsifal” (1886/1888)
Paul Verlaine (writer).
Read in 2022.
Read in the 1888 version, in its original language and in Swedish-language prose translation.
The Christian mysticist imagery appears to be based on Wagner, who based his version of it on the relatively late medieval version of Arthurian legend, ca. Thomas Mallory. Maybe there’s something to it that I don’t see, but I think it’s just the older Verlaine stepping into a puddle of bad mythemes.
References here: Modern utländsk lyrik (1975/1985).