The Romance of Tristan and Iseult

by Joseph Bedier, Hilaire Belloc (Translator)

Overview

A tale of chivalry and doomed, transcendent love, The Romance of Tristan and Iseult is one of the most resonant works of Western literature, as well as the basis for our enduring idea of romance. The story of the Cornish knight and the Irish princess who meet by deception, fall in love by magic, and pursue that love in defiance of heavenly and earthly law has inspired artists from Matthew Arnold to Richard Wagner. But nowhere has it been retold with greater eloquence and dignity than in Joseph Bédier's edition, which weaves several medieval sources into a seamless whole, elegantly translated by Hilaire Belloc and Paul Rosenfeld.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780679750161
Publisher:	Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Publication date:	05/31/1994
Series:	Vintage Classics
Edition description:	1st Vintage classics ed
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	995,384
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.52(d)

About the Author

Joseph Bédier (1864-1938) was a French writer, scholar, and historian who specialized in studies of medieval France. Throughout his career, Bédier produced several invaluable contributions to the study of the medieval period, including the inspiration for modern theories of certain aspects of medieval culture. Though his focus was on medieval culture, Bédier is also celebrated for his work in preserving primary sources during World War Ⅰ, exposing the sadistic crimes of German soldiers via the collection of diary entries. Bédier’s literary acclaim was earned through his novel The Romance of Tristian and Iseult, which is considered one of the best retellings of the legend.

Editorial Reviews

The first complete English edition, brilliantly translated....Throughout it retains the beauty and sense of fatality that have made it one of legendary literature's most fascinating tales." — Time

A tale of chivalry and doomed, transcendent love. The Romance of Tristan and Iseult is one of the most resonant works of Western literature, as well as the basis for our enduring idea of romance. The story of the Cornish knight and the Irish princess who meet by deception, fall in love by magic, and pursue that love in defiance of heavenly and earthly law has inspired artists from Matthew Arnold to Richard Wagner. But nowhere has it been retold with greater eloquence and dignity than in Joseph Bedier's edition, which weaves several medieval sources into a seamless whole, elegantly translated by Hilaire Belloc and Paul Rosenfeld.

"A powerful rendition, an incomparable tale."

— The New York Times

"Definitely a book to preserve and cherish." — Chicago Sun

From the Publisher