The first full-length examination of the medieval Charlemagne tradition in the literature and culture of medieval England, from the Chanson de Roland to Caxton. The Matter of France, the legendary history of Charlemagne, had a central but now largely unrecognised place in the multilingual culture of medieval England. From the early claim in the Chanson de Roland that Charlemagne held England as his personal domain, to the later proliferation of Middle English romances of Charlemagne, the materials are woven into the insular political and cultural imagination. However, unlike the wide range of continental French romances, the insular tradition concentrates on stories of a few heroic characters: Roland, Fierabras, Otinel. Why did writers and audiences in England turn again and again to these narratives, rewriting and reinterpreting them for more than two hundred years? This book offers the first full-length, in-depth study of the tradition as manifested in literature and culture. It investigates the currency and impact of the Matter of France with equal attention to English and French-language texts, setting each individual manuscript or early printed text in its contemporary cultural and political context. The narratives are revealed to be extraordinarily adaptable, using the iconic opposition between Carolingian and Saracen heroes to reflect concerns with national politics, religious identity, the future of Christendom, chivalry and ethics, and monarchy and treason. PHILLIPA HARDMAN is Readerin Medieval English Literature (retired) at the University of Reading; MARIANNE AILES is Senior Lecturer in French at the University of Bristol.

"There are few historical figures in the Middle Ages that cast a larger shadow than Charlemagne. This volume brings together a collection of studies on the Charlemagne legend from a wide range of fields, not only adding to the growing corpus of work on this legendary figure, but opening new avenues of inquiry by bringing together innovative trends that cross disciplinary boundaries. This collection expands the geographical frontiers, and extends the chronological scope beyond the Middle Ages from the heart of Carolingian Europe to Spain, England, and Iceland. The Charlemagne found here is one both familiar and strange and one who is both celebrated and critiqued. Contributors are Jada Bailey, Cullen Chandler, Carla Del Zotto, William Diebold, Christopher Flynn, Ana Grinberg, Elizabeth Melick, Jace Stuckey, and Larissa Tracy"--

The land - The people - The languages of France - French myths and legends - French festivals and ceremonies of antiquity and today - The religions of France throughout its history - The art and architecture of France - The literature and music of France - Famous foods and recipes of France - Daily life and customs in France - France at a glance.

This ebook collection has been designed and formatted to the highest digital standards and adjusted for readability on all devices. The edition contains ten books of incredible & unforgettable tales of King Arthur, The Holy Grail, Sir Lancelot, Sorcerer Merlin, the Excalibur, the Legendary Camelot, Adventures of the Noble Knights of the Round Table, as well as other British Celtic Legends and Myths: King Arthur – An Introduction by H. W. Mabie Le Morte d'Arthur by Thomas Malory The Legends of King Arthur and His Knights by James Knowles King Arthur and His Knights by Maude L. Radford The Story of King Arthur and His Knights by Howard Pyle The Story of the Champions of the Round Table by Howard Pyle The Story of Sir Launcelot and His Companions by Howard Pyle Idylls of the King by Alfred Tennyson Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by Richard Morris The Mabinogion Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race