In order to obtain the answer to a riddle that will save King Arthur's life, Sir Gawain must marry the ugliest maiden in the world.

    Hieatt's Perceval plays a more important part in the Quest than his counterparts in the Malory-inspired collections of Arthurian legend (e.g. Picard's Stories of King Arthur and His Knights, 1955), and his impetuous exploits have been refined into a poised and polished morality tale which demonstrates the power Of good intentions when guided by the hand of fate.