Early Fiction in England: From Geoffrey of Monmouth to Chaucer (Penguin Classics)

Edited and with Introductions by Laura Ashe. Before the twelfth century, fiction had completely disappeared in Europe. In this important and provocative book, Laura Ashe shows how English writers brought it back, composing new tales about King Arthur, his knights and other heroes and heroines in Latin, French and English. Why did fiction disappear, and why did it come to life again to establish itself the dominant form of literature ever since? And what do we even mean by the term 'fiction'? Gathering extracts from the most important texts of the period by Wace, Marie de France, Chaucer and others, this volume offers an absorbing and surprising introduction to the earliest fiction in England. The anthology includes a general introduction by Laura Ashe, introductions to each extract, explanatory notes and other useful editorial materials. All French and Latin texts have been newly translated, while Middle English texts include helpful glosses. Laura Ashe is a University Lecturer in English and Fellow of Worcester College, Oxford. Her first book 'Fiction and History in England, 1066-1200' (Cambridge University Press, 2007) has been followed by numerous articles and edited collections; she is now writing the new 'Oxford English Literary History vol. 1: 1000-1350' (Oxford University Press). In The Twelfth Century, Fiction Was Reinvented In English Literature. Stories Of Romance And Adventure Emerged Which Heralded New Understandings Of Human Experience, The Relations Between People And The Significance Of The Individual. Above All, This Fiction Brought Love Into Literary Narrative, And The Idea That The Crowning Goal Of Life Is Personal Fulfilment. The Pieces In This Wide-ranging Anthology, Originally Written In Latin, French Or Middle English By Authors Such As Geoffrey Of Monmouth, Chaucer And Marie De France, Are Inspirations For Some Of The Best-known Later Works In Literature. They Are Newly Translated Into Clear Modern Prose, With Glosses Provided For Middle English Texts -- Provided By Publisher. History Of The Kings Of Britain. The Tale Of King Leir. King Arthur / Geoffrey Of Monmouth ; Translated By Richard Sowerby -- History Of The English. Edgar And Ælfthryth / Geffrei Gaimar ; Translated By John Spence -- Romance Of Brut. King Arthur's Court And The Round Table / Wace ; Translated By Judith Weiss -- Romance Of Horn. The Lady Begs For Love / Thomas ; Translated By Liliana Worth -- Tristan. Falling In Love. The Lovers Must Part. Tristan's Marriage. Love And Suffering. The Trip To Court In Disguise. The Second Tristan. Betrayal And Death / Thomas Of Britain ; Translated By Laura Ashe -- Courtiers' Trifles. Sadius And Galo. Eudo, The Boy Deceived By A Demon. The Fantastical Shoemaker Of Constantinople / Walter Map ; Translated By Richard Sowerby -- Lais. Les Deus Amanz. Laüstic. Chaitivel. Chevrefoil / Marie De France ; Tranlsated By Laura Ashe -- Arthur And Gorlagon / Translated By Richard Sowerby -- Amis And Amilun / Translated By Laura Ashe -- Gui Of Warwick. Gui Proves His Worth. For God, Not For Love. The Perfect Knight / Translated By Liliana Worth And Philip Knox -- Guide For Anchorites. On Love / Translated By Laura Ashe -- Sir Orfeo / Edited By Laura Ashe -- Troilus And Criseyde. Love-longing. The Lady Falls In Love. Why This One, And Not Another? The Ascent To The Eighth Sphere / Geoffrey Chaucer ; Edited By Laura Ashe. Edited And With Introductions By Laura Ashe. Includes Bibliographical References. A brilliant new anthology that shows how fiction was reinvented in the twelfth century after an absence of hundreds of years. Essential for all students of medieval literature, Early Fiction in England includes extracts by Geoffrey of Monmouth, Wace, Marie de France, Chaucer and many others, in new translations and with illuminating introductions. Before the twelfth century, fiction had completely disappeared in Europe. In this important and provocative book, Laura Ashe shows how English writers brought it back, composing new tales about King Arthur, his knights and other heroes and heroines in Latin, French and English. Why did fiction disappear, and why did it come to life again to establish itself the dominant form of literature ever since? And what do we even mean by the term 'fiction'? Gathering extracts from the most important texts of the period by Wace, Marie de France, Chaucer and others, this volume offers an absorbing and surprising introduction to the earliest fiction in England. The anthology includes a general introduction by Laura Ashe, introductions to each extract, explanatory notes and other useful editorial materials. All French and Latin texts have been newly translated, while Middle English texts include helpful glosses. Laura Ashe is a University Lecturer in English and Fellow of Worcester College, Oxford. Her first book Fiction and History in England, 1066-1200 (Cambridge University Press, 2007) has been followed by numerous articles and edited collections; she is now writing the new Oxford English Literary History vol. 1: 1000-1350 (Oxford University Press). Chronology Introduction Note on Editions and Translations Further Reading EARLY FICTION IN ENGLAND 1. GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH / History of the Kings of Britain / Translated by Richard Sowerby The Tale of King Leir King Arthur 2. GEFFREI GAIMAR / History of the English / Translated by John Spence Edgar and Ælfthryth 3. WACE / Romance of Brut / Translated by Judith Weiss King Arthur’s Court and the Round Table 4. THOMAS / Romance of Horn / Translated by Liliana Worth The Lady Begs for Love 5. THOMAS OF BRITAIN / Tristan / Translated by Laura Ashe Falling in Love The Lovers Must Part Tristan’s Marriage Love and Suffering The Trip to Court in Disguise The Second Tristan Betrayal and Death 6. WALTER MAP / Courtiers’ Trifles / Translated by Richard Sowerby Sadius and Galo Eudo, the Boy Deceived by a Demon The Fantastical Shoemaker of Constantinople 7. MARIE DE FRANCE / Lais / Translated by Laura Ashe Les Deus Amanz Laüstic Chaitivel Chevrefoil 8. ARTHUR AND GORLAGON / Translated by Richard Sowerby Arthur and Gorlagon 9. AMIS AND AMILUN / Translated by Laura Ashe Amis and Amilun 10. GUI OF WARWICK / Translated by Liliana Worth and Philip Knox Gui Proves His Worth For God, Not for Love The Perfect Knight 11. GUIDE FOR ANCHORITES / Translated by Laura Ashe On Love 12. SIR ORFEO / Edited by Laura Ashe Sir Orfeo 13. GEOFFREY CHAUCER / Troilus and Criseyde / Edited by Laura Ashe Love-Longing The Lady Falls in Love Why This One, and Not Another? The Ascent to the Eighth Sphere Notes Acknowledgements Follow Penguin A brilliant new anthology that shows how fiction was reinvented in the twelfth century after an absence of hundreds of years. Before the twelfth century, fiction had completely disappeared in Europe. In this important and provocative book, Laura Ashe shows how English writers brought it back, composing new tales about King Arthur, his knights, and other heroes and heroines in Latin, French, and English. Why did fiction disappear, and why did it come to life again, to establish itself as our dominant form of literature ever since? And what do we even mean by the term fiction? Gathering extracts from the most important texts of the period, by Wace, Marie de France, Chaucer, and others, this volume offers an absorbing and surprising introduction to the earliest English fiction.