The complete romances of Chrétien de Troyes

by de Troyes Chrétien

Other authorsDavid Staines

Paper Book, 1990

Status

Available

Call number

841/.1

Publication

Bloomington : Indiana University Press, c1990.

Description

"[A]n eminently readable text, done clearly and accurately . . . it gives as good an idea as a translation can of the complexity and subtlety of Chrétien's originals. . . . The text is provided by a translator who understands the spirit as well as the letter of the original and renders it with style. . . . [T]his translation should attract a wide audience of students and Arthurian enthusiasts." --Speculum "[A] significant contribution to the field of medieval studies [and] a pleasure to read." --Library Journal "These are, above all, stories of courtly love and of knights tested in their devotion to chivalric ideals (with passion and duty often at odds); but they are also thrilling wonder stories of giants, wild men, tame lions, razor-sharp bridges and visits to the Other World." --Washington Post Book World "This tastefully produced book will be the standard general translation for many years to come." --Choice This new translation brings to life for a new generation of readers the stories of King Arthur, Lancelot, Guinevere, Gawain, Perceval, Yvain, and the other "knights and ladies" of Chrétien de Troyes' famous romances.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member the1butterfly

Besides the endless joy of going "Cretien!", this is a very enjoyable set of Arthurian legends. It's readable, and generally enjoyable, and sure to keep you entertained after long nights stuck inside without a tv, or, perhaps you will turn off your tv (since this isn't the middle ages) to enjoy

this classic. Perhaps you are like me, and actually get college credit for reading this. Yes, go me.

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LibraryThing member lisanicholas

Excellent translations of Chretien's romances by David Staines -- very readable. I particularly liked the fact that, in The Story of the Grail Staines translates "graal" as "bowl," rather than "grail," a word which has no clear meaning in modern English. The "graal" that Chretien wrote about was

described in a comtemporary Latin dictionary (i.e., "gradale," from which the OF graal is a corruption) as "a somewhat-deep dish," and Chretien's narrator refers to it as the sort of thing used to serve a lamprey or other large fish -- clearly not the chalice that the "grail" becomes later in the tradition. In other words, Staines give a fresh translation which does not make unwarranted interpretations about what the original meant, allowing the reader to make up his/her own mind what is going on.

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LibraryThing member DinadansFriend

Chretien was a romancer in the Court of Marie of Champagne, eldest daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine. His works are well translated by David Staines. The Title is a little ironic as Chretien only completed three of the six stories in the book. But as an ancestor of Thomas Malory, and a major figure

in the "Matter of Britain", he is well served by this translation. The poems are presented in prose.

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