In the early 1300, the Bishop of Pamiers launched an inquisition into the villiage of Montaillou in the mountains of Southern France. The inquisitors In the early 1300, the Bishop of Pamiers launched an inquisition into the villiage of Montaillou in the mountains of Southern France. The inquisitors kept detailer decords of the proceedings, and Ladurie uses these primary texts to create one of the most vivid, down-to-earth explorations of life, religion, and fear in medieval Europe....more
Cretien de Troyes is the father of Arthurian romance, and his tales are always more entertaining than Malories English versions. This newer translatioCretien de Troyes is the father of Arthurian romance, and his tales are always more entertaining than Malories English versions. This newer translation is quite good....more
A massive tome that covers much of the variety that is found in Middle English, both geographically (southern English varied dramatically from northerA massive tome that covers much of the variety that is found in Middle English, both geographically (southern English varied dramatically from northern, and the Highlands was another world entirely) and temporally (from the earliest middle English of the 12th century, to early modern English in the 15th)....more
Its Tolkien, so I want to just love it, but his translation speaks to its age - rather archaic, and now unnecessary after Merwin's excelent new editioIts Tolkien, so I want to just love it, but his translation speaks to its age - rather archaic, and now unnecessary after Merwin's excelent new edition....more
I always want to like Celtic writing more than I do, but then that tends to be true for most medieval lit, the sagas being the only true exception. LiI always want to like Celtic writing more than I do, but then that tends to be true for most medieval lit, the sagas being the only true exception. Like much of Penguin's medieval publications, the translation is old but serviceable. If you can get something better, do, but Penguin is there for all of us that don't have ready access to more accademic tomes....more
I enjoy the early middle ages much more than the late middle ages. The sagas are gripping, but the romances, even the german ones, are a bit to floofyI enjoy the early middle ages much more than the late middle ages. The sagas are gripping, but the romances, even the german ones, are a bit to floofy for my tastes. Lots of clothes and swooning and such....more
Irish medieval literature is truly like nothing else - epic, powerful, and yet strangely surreal, like a saga written on acid. While most of europe haIrish medieval literature is truly like nothing else - epic, powerful, and yet strangely surreal, like a saga written on acid. While most of europe had moved further from fairy-tales and folk tradition, the Irish authors were still steeped in the surrealistic imagery of local magic, symbolic numerology, and hyperbole....more
If you can't read Old English, read the Seamus Heaney or Chickering translation. Anything else is worthless.If you can't read Old English, read the Seamus Heaney or Chickering translation. Anything else is worthless....more
Reading Beowulf in the orignal is just as much fun as you would think; unfortunately, Beade's Translation of Boethius is, likewise, just as much fun aReading Beowulf in the orignal is just as much fun as you would think; unfortunately, Beade's Translation of Boethius is, likewise, just as much fun as you would think. Still, OE is such a cool language - besides singular and plural, they have a dual mode for verbs which you use when refering to "you and I". ...more
I can't review the edition I read, because I found it at a used book store in Edinburough and it was so old I had to cut the pages when I read it. I rI can't review the edition I read, because I found it at a used book store in Edinburough and it was so old I had to cut the pages when I read it. I really need to re-read it in a newer, less archaic translation, but even so I loved it. Read Pergatorio people - Inferno's great, but there are two more, and they're great too!...more
If you MUST read Sir Gawain in translation (which I strongly advise against - get an original language with a good glossary and fight through it), thiIf you MUST read Sir Gawain in translation (which I strongly advise against - get an original language with a good glossary and fight through it), this is the only one to read. Merwin catches the language and the poetry, and makes it highly readable....more
As with most Penguin medieval translations, the classic French epic suffers somewhat under a mediocre interpertation. I'm not a huge fan of Roland anyAs with most Penguin medieval translations, the classic French epic suffers somewhat under a mediocre interpertation. I'm not a huge fan of Roland anyways (knights should NOT swoon as often as the warriors in this poem!), but it should be better treated than this....more
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