Jean Froissart was born in Valenciennes (c.1337) and came to England in 1361 where he joined the entourage of Edward III's Queen. While in England he travelled to Scotland and the Welsh Marshes and to the Continent seveal times, finally settling in the Netherlands on the death of the Queen. He finally took holy orders, before returning to England in the court of Richard II, whose downfall he recorded in 1399. His first book of the Chroniques was published in three versions, the second book was completed by 1388 and the third in 1390. He was still working on the fourth when he died c.1410.Geoffrey Brereton edited and translated several modern dramatists including Claudel, Sartre and Adamov, and was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. He died in 1979.

• ChroniclesIntroductionAcknowledgmentsThe Chronological BackgroundBook One (1322-77)PrologueThe Beginning of a ReignDeposition of Edward II and Accession of Edward IIIThe Scots Invade EnglandEdward III Does Homage to Philip VIPreliminaries of the Hundred Years WarBattle of SluysThe Order of the GarterThe Campaign of CrecyThe Siege of CalaisBlack Death, Flagellants and JewsSea Battle off WinchelseaThe Siege of Breteuil and the Poitiers CampaignConsequences of PoitiersThe Three Estates; the Free CompaniesThe JacquerieThe Last Days of Étienne MarcelBrigandry, Warfare and PredictionsKing John's Return to England and His DeathThe Battle of Montiel and Death of Peter the CruelThe Sack of LimogesThe Turn of the TideDu Guesclin Appointed ConstableLa Rochelle Goes Over to the FrenchJohn of Gaunt's Fruitless ExpeditionThe End of a ReignBook Two (1376-85)Papal Affairs and the Great SchismThe Great SchismThe Peasants' Revolt in EnglandAffairs of FlandersBattle of RoosebekeCharles VI Marries Isabella of BavariaBook Three (1386-8)At the Court of the Count of FoixThe Haunting of Sir PeterReminiscences of the Bascot de Mauléon, FreebooterThe Tale of the FamiliarPreparations for a French Invasion of EnglandTrial by CombatRichard II's First Struggle with His UnclesJohn of Gaunt's Expedition to SpainThe Battle of Otterburn (Chevy Chase)Book Four (1389-1400)Queen Isabella's Entry into ParisA Royal VisitationTournament at Saint-InglevertThe Duke of Touraine in TroubleThe Death of the Count of FoixCharles VI Goes MadFroissart Revisits EnglandThe English in IrelandTwo MarriagesThe Downfall of Richard IIThe Murder of GloucesterThe Challenge and Bolingbroke's BanishmentRichard loses ControlThe Return of BolingbrokeThe Surrender of King RichardRichard's AbdicationCoronation of BolingbrokePlots against Henry IVThe End of Richard of BordeauxNotes in Form of GlossaryMap: France and Neighbouring Territories in the Fourteenth CenturyIndex of Persons

1. 5/5

   Ögonvittnet.

   Froissart skriver utsökt, ofta som ögonvittne, men också som en vittberest intervjuande journalist. När man kommer fram till den tredje boken flyter berättelserna över sidorna och man trollbinds av 1300-talets märkliga förutsättningar där ridderligheten fortfarande står högt i kurs. Historia när den är som bäst. Froissarts krönika är något redigerad men övergångarna är bra mellan texterna så man känner inte att man missar något.

   Yanneman

   06 maj 2007