Description
Book Synopsis"Sir Isumbras," "Octavian," "Sir Eglamour of Artois," and "Sir Tryamour" are important works in a major literary development of the fourteenth century: the flourishing of Middle English popular romance. These four narratives were among the most popular; all survive in multiple manuscripts and continued to circulate in prints through the sixteenth century. All were composed in the northeast Midlands in the fifty years between 1325 and 1375, and they appear together in several manuscripts. The tale the romances tell—of exiled queens, orphaned children, and penitent fathers—was one of the most prevalent medieval stories. Sometimes called the Constance/Eustace legend (after two well-known pious versions), its influence can be seen in numerous romances.
Table of ContentsAcknowledgements
General Introduction
Sir Isumbras Introduction
Sir Isumbras Notes
Octavian Introduction
Octavian Notes
Sir Eglamour of Artois Introduction
Sir Eglamour of Artois Notes
Sir Tryamour Introduction
Sir Tryamour Notes
Glossary
Bibliography
