Overview

The first full-length examination of the medieval Charlemagne tradition in the literature and culture of medieval England, from the Chanson de Roland to Caxton. The Matter of France, the legendary history of Charlemagne, had a central but now largely unrecognised place in the multilingual culture of medieval England. From the early claim in the Chanson de Roland that Charlemagne held England as his personal domain, to the later proliferation of Middle English romances of Charlemagne, the materials are woven into the insular political and cultural imagination. However, unlike the wide range of continental French romances, the insular tradition concentrates on stories of a few heroic characters: Roland, Fierabras, Otinel. Why did writers and audiences in England turn again and again to these narratives, rewriting and reinterpreting them for more than two hundred years? This book is the first full-length study of the tradition. It investigates the currency and impact of the Matter of France with equal attention to English and French-language texts, setting each individual manuscript or early printed text in its contemporary cultural and political context. The narratives are revealed to be extraordinarily adaptable, using the iconic opposition between Carolingian and Saracen heroes to reflect concerns with national politics, religious identity, the future of Christendom, chivalry and ethics, and monarchy and treason.

Full Product Details

9781843846017

Table of Contents

Reviews

This excellent study, long overdue, serves as a thorough introduction to the English Charlemagne texts and as a corrective to the common assumption that these works lack merit. . . . Highly recommended. JOURNAL OF ENGLISH AND GERMANIC PHILOLOGY An essential study for those interested in the Charlemagne legend. FRANCIA Carefully researched, ambitious in scope, and lucidly written, [the book] conclusively debunks long-held perceptions of the insular Charlemagne narratives as inferior `hack-work' and will become an indispensable resource for anyone working within this tradition. REVIEW OF ENGLISH STUDIES Hardman and Ailes have made an important contribution to this initiative by giving scholars a much-needed survey and study of insular Charlemagne literature. SPECULUM this book offers many new insights into the political and cultural uses of translation and adaptation, as well as a fresh perspective on the development of Middle English literature through dialogue with literature in French. FRENCH STUDIES [A] rich and deeply researched study that is carefully organized and refreshingly readable, especially given the depth and detail that it provides. H-FRANCE REVIEW

Author Information

PHILLIPA HARDMAN is Reader in Medieval English Literature (retired) at the University of Reading. MARIANNE AILES is Professor of French at the University of Bristol.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available