Narrating the Crusades: Loss and Recovery in Medieval and Early Modern English Literature (Cambridge Studies in Medieval Literature, Series Number 90)

In 'Narrating the Crusades', Lee Manion examines crusading's narrative-generating power as it is reflected in English literature from c.1300 to 1604. By synthesizing key features of crusade discourse into one paradigm, this book identifies and analyzes the kinds of stories crusading produced in England, uncovering new evidence for literary and historical research as well as genre studies. Surveying medieval romances including 'Richard Cœur de Lion', 'Sir Isumbras', 'Octavian', and 'The Sowdone of Babylon'e alongside historical practices, chronicles, and treatises, this study shows how different forms of crusading literature address cultural concerns about collective and private action. These insights extend to early modern writing, including Spenser's 'Faerie Queene', Marlowe's 'Tamburlaine', and Shakespeare's 'Othello', providing a richer understanding of how crusading's narrative shaped the beginning of the modern era. This first full-length examination of English crusading literature will be an essential resource for the study of crusading in literary and historical contexts. In Narrating The Crusades, Lee Manion Examines Crusading's Narrative-generating Power As It Is Reflected In English Literature From C.1300 To 1604. By Synthesizing Key Features Of Crusade Discourse Into One Paradigm, This Book Identifies And Analyzes The Kinds Of Stories Crusading Produced In England, Uncovering New Evidence For Literary And Historical Research As Well As Genre Studies. Surveying Medieval Romances Including Richard Coeur De Lion, Sir Isumbras, Octavian, And The Sowdone Of Babylone Alongside Historical Practices, Chronicles, And Treatises, This Study Shows How Different Forms Of Crusading Literature Address Cultural Concerns About Collective And Private Action. These Insights Extend To Early Modern Writing, Including Spenser's Faerie Queene, Marlowe's Tamburlaine, And Shakespeare's Othello, Providing A Richer Understanding Of How Crusading's Narrative Shaped The Beginning Of The Modern Era. This First Full-length Examination Of English Crusading Literature Will Be An Essential Resource For The Study Of Crusading In Literary And Historical Contexts-- Machine Generated Contents Note: Introduction; 1. An Anti-national Richard Coeur De Lion: Associational Forms And The English Crusading Romance; 2. Sir Isumbras's '[p]rivy' Recovery: Individual Crusading In The Fourteenth Century; 3. Fictions Of Recovery In Later English Crusading Romances: Octavian And The Sowdone Of Babylone; 4. Re-figuring Catholic And Turk: Early Modern Literatures Of Crusading And The End Of The Crusading Romance; Conclusion; Bibliography. Lee Manion. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "In Narrating the Crusades, Lee Manion examines crusading's narrative-generating power as it is reflected in English literature from c.1300 to 1604. By synthesizing key features of crusade discourse into one paradigm, this book identifies and analyzes the kinds of stories crusading produced in England, uncovering new evidence for literary and historical research as well as genre studies. Surveying medieval romances including Richard Coeur de Lion, Sir Isumbras, Octavian, and The Sowdone of Babylone alongside historical practices, chronicles, and treatises, this study shows how different forms of crusading literature address cultural concerns about collective and private action. These insights extend to early modern writing, including Spenser's Faerie Queene, Marlowe's Tamburlaine, and Shakespeare's Othello, providing a richer understanding of how crusading's narrative shaped the beginning of the modern era. This first full-length examination of English crusading literature will be an essential resource for the study of crusading in literary and historical contexts"-- Provided by publisher Acknowledgments viii Introduction 1 1. An anti-national 'Richard Cœur de Lion': associational forms and the English crusading romance 19 2. 'Sir Isumbras’s' "privy" recovery: individual crusading in the fourteenth century 67 3. Fictions of recovery in later English crusading romances: 'Octavian' and 'The Sowdone of Babylone' 107 4. Refiguring Catholic and Turk: early modern literatures of crusading and the end of the crusading romance 146 Conclusion 212 Notes 221 Bibliography 283 Index 303 This wide-ranging study is the first to demonstrate how English literature continued to engage with crusading from the medieval tales of Richard the Lionheart all the way to Shakespeare. It provides a richer understanding of the impact of the crusades on narrative patterns and the beginning of the modern era. First study to demonstrate how English literature continued to engage with crusading from medieval romances right through to Shakespeare