Routledge Medieval Texts – serie

Around the year 1400, the poet Christine de Pizan initiated a public debate in France over the literary "truth" and merit of the Roman of the Rose, perhaps the most renowned work of the French Middle Ages. She argued against what she considered to be misrepresentations of female virtue and vice in the Rose. Her bold objections aroused the support and opposition of some of the period’s most famous intellectuals, notable Jean Gerson, whose sermons on the subject are important literary documents. "The Quarrel of the Rose" is the name given by modern scholars to the collection of these and other documents, including both poetry and letters, that offer a vivid account of this important controversy.As the first dual-language version of the "Quarrel" documents, this volume will be of great interest to medievalists and an ideal addition to the Routledge Medieval Texts series. Along with translations of the actual debate epistles, the volume includes several relevant passages from the Romance of the Rose, as well as a chronology of events and ample biography of source materials.

Eustache Deschamps studied under the tutelage of Guillaume de Marchault, traveled in Syria, Palestine, and Egypt-where he was said to have been made a slave-and eventually become recognized as one of the great French medieval poets. He was the first writer to dissociate lyric poetry from its musical setting and his witty perceptions comment on nearly all aspects of daily life: from women's underwear to gluttonous diners, from praise of famous writers to scorn for the unscrupulous of all ranks, from the delights of youth to the horrors of war. This volume provides facing-page, dual-language translations of Deschamps engaging, amusing, and accessible poems, gleaning from the mountains of verse the poems, gleaning from the mountains of verse the most edifying and historically relevant. Copious notes, glossaries, and a full bibliography enhance this elegant translation.

Walther von der Vogelweide was the greatest German lyric poet of the Middle Ages. He created and performed songs for the noblest courts of the Holy Roman Empire. Though every German-speaking school-child can recite some of Walther's lines, his has languished in obscurity in the English-speaking world, largely because it has been available until now only in scattered and poorly annotated translations. Presented here is a complete, annotated edition of his Sprüche, translated with care and elegance by Frederick Goldin, in a convenient facing-page, dual-language format. These brilliant powerful strophes are masterpieces of propaganda and impassioned reflection in which the live voice of the poet and performer comes through to us today, a fierce and irresistible presence fro the past.

Belle dame sans merci (Beautiful lady with no mercy) (1424) is not readily available in moden English translation elsewhere, making this an essential addition to any library with a medieval literature or French literature collection.

Around the year 1400, the poet Christine de Pizan initiated a public debate in France over the literary "truth" and merit of the Roman of the Rose, perhaps the most renowned work of the French Middle Ages. She argued against what she considered to be misrepresentations of female virtue and vice in the Rose. Her bold objections aroused the support and opposition of some of the period’s most famous intellectuals, notable Jean Gerson, whose sermons on the subject are important literary documents. "The Quarrel of the Rose" is the name given by modern scholars to the collection of these and other documents, including both poetry and letters, that offer a vivid account of this important controversy.As the first dual-language version of the "Quarrel" documents, this volume will be of great interest to medievalists and an ideal addition to the Routledge Medieval Texts series. Along with translations of the actual debate epistles, the volume includes several relevant passages from the Romance of the Rose, as well as a chronology of events and ample biography of source materials.

First published in 2002. Jean Froissart is probably the best known medieval historians. His Chronicle (of the Hundred Years War) is among the top ten historical works in western civilization. In his own time, though, he was better known as a poet. This is the first dual language anthology including excepts from Chroniques , as well as several of his verse and prose.

Walther von der Vogelweide was the greatest German lyric poet of the Middle Ages. He created and performed songs for the noblest courts of the Holy Roman Empire. Though every German-speaking school-child can recite some of Walther's lines, his has languished in obscurity in the English-speaking world, largely because it has been available until now only in scattered and poorly annotated translations. Presented here is a complete, annotated edition of his Sprüche, translated with care and elegance by Frederick Goldin, in a convenient facing-page, dual-language format. These brilliant powerful strophes are masterpieces of propaganda and impassioned reflection in which the live voice of the poet and performer comes through to us today, a fierce and irresistible presence fro the past.

Belle dame sans merci (Beautiful lady with no mercy) (1424) is not readily available in moden English translation elsewhere, making this an essential addition to any library with a medieval literature or French literature collection.