Arthurian Romances

by Chretien de Troyes (Author); Kibler, William W. (Translator); Kibler, William W. (Introduction by)

• ISBN13: 9780140445213
• ISBN10: 0140445218
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1991-06-01
• Publisher: Penguin Classics
• More Book Details

Summary

Taking the legends surrounding King Arthur and weaving in new psychological elements of personal desire and courtly manner, Chrètien de Troyes fashioned a new form of medieval Romance. The Knight of the Cart is the first telling of the adulterous relationship between Lancelot and Arthur's Queen Guinevere, and in The Knight with the Lion Yvain neglects his bride in his quest for greater glory. Erec and Enide explores a knight's conflict between love and honour, Cligès exalts the possibility of pure love outside marriage, while the haunting The Story of the Grail chronicles the legendary quest. Rich in symbolism, these evocative tales combine closely observed detail with fantastic adventure to create a compelling world that profoundly influenced Malory, and are the basis of the Arthurian legends we know today.

Author Biography

Chretien de Troyes wrote in French in the second half of the twelfth century. Very little is known about his life.

Table of Contents

Translated with Introduction and Notes by William W. Kibler; Erec and Enide translated by Carleton W. Carroll

Introduction
A Note on the Translations
Select Bibliography
Erec and Enide
Cligés
The Knight of the Cart (Lancelot)
The Knight with the Lion (Yvain)
The Story of the Grail (Perceval)
Appendix: The Story of the Grail Continuations
Glossary of Medieval Terms
Notes