The Siege of Thebes / Edition 1

by John Lydgate, Robert R Edwards

Overview

John Lydgate's The Siege of Thebes, written c. 1421-22, is the only Middle English poetic text that recounts the fratricidal struggle between Oedipus's sons Eteocles and Polynices as they contend for the lordship of Thebes. The text reflects the problem of poetic authority and the political and ethical themes of Lydgate's poetic career in the 1420s, when he was writing as a Lancastrian propagandist and as unofficial royal poet.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781580440745
Publisher:	Medieval Institute Publications
Publication date:	03/01/2001
Series:	TEAMS Middle English Texts Series
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	7.01(w) x (h) x (d)

About the Author

Robert R. Edwards is Professor of English and comparative literature at Penn State. He specializes in medieval literature, with particular interests in Chaucer, continental and Latin literary relations, and authorship in trilingual England.

Table of Contents

Preface Introduction Select Bibliography The Siege of Thebes Explanatory Notes Textual Notes Glossary

Editorial Reviews

Like Lydgate's original 1421 poem this classroom text is a companion and sequel to his : Edwards (English, Pennsylvania State U.) has followed the same editing principles he did in his selections from that for the same series in 1998. Glosses of difficult words are in the wide margins of the pages, and longer endnotes are signaled, amusingly, with the pointing finger used for Web links. An introduction with a bibliography, textual notes, and a glossary complete the edition. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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