Norris J. Lacy (born March 8, 1940 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky) is an American scholar focusing on

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

medieval literature. He was the Edwin Erle Sparks Professor Emeritus of French and Medieval Studies at the

Pennsylvania State University The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State or PSU) is a public state-related land-grant research university with campuses and facilities throughout Pennsylvania. Founded in 1855 as the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania, Penn State becam ...

until his retirement in 2012, a position he had held since 1998. He is a leading expert on the Arthurian legend and has written and edited numerous books, papers, and articles on the topic. In 2014 the International Arthurian Society, North American Branch, presented him an award for Lifetime Service to Arthurian Studies. He received his Ph.D. from

Indiana University Indiana University (IU) is a system of public universities in the U.S. state of Indiana. Campuses Indiana University has two core campuses, five regional campuses, and two regional centers under the administration of IUPUI. *Indiana Universi ...

and has held teaching positions at the

University of Kansas The University of Kansas (KU) is a public research university with its main campus in Lawrence, Kansas, United States, and several satellite campuses, research and educational centers, medical centers, and classes across the state of Kansas. T ...

, the

University of California, Los Angeles The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the Californ ...

, and Washington University in St. Louis. He has served as president of the International Arthurian Society. With Geoffrey Ashe he wrote ''The Arthurian Handbook'', and he edited ''The Arthurian Encyclopedia'' and its successor, ''The New Arthurian Encyclopedia'', a standard reference book for Arthurian works. He also oversaw the first complete English translation of the French

Vulgate The Vulgate (; also called (Bible in common tongue), ) is a late-4th-century Latin translation of the Bible. The Vulgate is largely the work of Jerome who, in 382, had been commissioned by Pope Damasus I to revise the Gospels u ...

and Post-Vulgate Cycles, released as the five (alternatively ten) volume ''Lancelot-Grail: The Old French Arthurian Vulgate and Post-Vulgate in Translation''. He was knighted in France's

Ordre des Palmes Académiques A suite, in Western classical music and jazz, is an ordered set of instrumental or orchestral/ concert band pieces. It originated in the late 14th century as a pairing of dance tunes and grew in scope to comprise up to five dances, sometimes w ...

, first as a Chevalier in 1988, and subsequently elevated to the rank of Officier in 2003.

References

The first full English translations of the Vulgate and Post-Vulgate Cycles were overseen by Norris J. Lacy. Volumes 1–4 contain the Vulgate Cycle proper. *Lacy, Norris J. (Ed.). ''Lancelot–Grail: The Old French Arthurian Vulgate and Post-Vulgate in Translation'', New York: Garland. **Volume 1 of 5 (December 1, 1992). . **Volume 2 of 5 (August 1, 1993). . **Volume 3 of 5 (March 1, 1995). . **Volume 4 of 5 (April 1, 1995). . **Volume 5 of 5 (May 1, 1996). . *Lacy, Norris J. (Ed.) (2000). ''The Lancelot–Grail Reader.'' New York: Garland. .

External links

Norris J. Lacy personal webpage
American medievalists Arthurian scholars Indiana University alumni 1940 births Living people Pennsylvania State University faculty Washington University in St. Louis faculty Holy Grail Officiers of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques {{US-historian-stub