Erec and Enide marks the birth of the Arthurian romance as a literary genre. Written circa 1170, this version of the Griselda legend tells the story of the marriage of Erec, a handsome and courageous Welsh prince and knight of the Round Table, and Enide, an impoverished noblewoman. When the lovers become estranged because Erec neglects his knightly obligations, they subsequently ride off together on a series of adventures that culminate in their reconciliation and the liberation of a captive knight in an enchanted orchard.

An innovative poet working during a time of great literary creativity, Chretien de Troyes wrote poems that had a lively pace, skillful structure, and vivid descriptive detail. Ruth Harwood Cline re-creates for modern audiences his irony, humor, and charm, while retaining the style and substance of the original octosyllabic couplets. Her thorough introduction includes discussions of courtly love and the Arthurian legend in history and literature, as well as a new and provocative theory about the identity of Chretien de Troyes. This clearly presented translation, faithful in preserving the subtle expressive qualities of the original work, is accessible reading for any Arthurian legend aficionado and an ideal text for students of medieval literature.

About the Author

CHRETIEN DE TROYES (1135?-1191?) was a French poet and trouvere. He is widely regarded as the creator of the literary genre known as the Arthurian romance, and the originator of the heroic medieval character Lancelot.

Reviews

Anglophone students and general readers can trust that Cline's translations, surely a sustained labor of love, are faithful to the poignant characters and suspenseful situations that make Chretien's earliest romances well worth reading.

The English speaking world is indebted to Chretien for shaping this marvelous legend and to Cline for an accurate translation.

Her work constitutes the finest poetic translations now available of Chretien's romances.

Book Information
ISBN 9780820321417
Author Chretien de Troyes
Format Paperback
Page Count 256
Imprint University of Georgia Press
Publisher University of Georgia Press
Weight(grams) 404g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 18mm