The Knight and the Barrel (Le Chevalier Au Barisel)

Description

Le Chevalier au barisel is an established part of the Old French literary canon, but up to now it has not been available in English. This translation offers a vibrant but scholarly version of the exciting short story, suitable for a wide readership including university students, scholars of associated disciplines (history, English, theology, fine arts, comparative literature, etc.) and general readers. The greatest strength of the book is the translation itself, which can be read without reference to the original text or alongside the medieval French. But also valuable is the apparatus surrounding the text: cultural rather than linguistic, explicative rather than excessively technical. A substantial commentary reveals the internal struggles of the protagonists, highlights existing research and suggests future lines of enquiry. This commentary is a freestanding work of rigorous scholarship that makes plentiful reference to the text. -- .

Adrian P. Tudor is Senior Lecturer in French at the University of Hull -- .

'...by the time readers finish perusing the illuminating, accessible, and authoritative introduction to his translation, they will be primed to like it [The Knight and the Barrel] too, and eager to jump into the text for themselves. With no small amount of finesse and dexterity, Tudor manages to make a tale about a terrible person, who endures physical suffering and social degradation, both inviting and engaging for the modern audience... As one reads Tudor's insightful commentary and lively translation, one may be surprised that it has taken this long to reach a wider audience.' H-France Review -- .