Chretien de Troyes

Filled with romantic tales of Lancelot and early Grail legends, this exacting translation of de Troyes' verse narratives written in the 12th century features four romances that expound on the ideals of French chivalry.

Arthurian Romances

D. D. R. Owen

Chretien De Troyes

Erec and Enide; Cliges; Lancelot; Yvain; Perceval An idyllically happy marriage in which a husband is so involved that he neglects his duties as a knight; love endangered by a husband who is more interested in athletic chivalry than his wife; timorous young love; and adulterous passion — together these stories offer the most complete expression of French chivalry and of courtly love. Chretien de Troyes did not invent the Arthurian legend: he gave it sophisticated literary form, establishing it as major branch of European literature. Without chretien we might today scarcely have heard of King Arthur and his brave company. The most comprehensive paperback edition available, with introduction , notes and glossary

though it definitely has its merits (and some very beautifully written passages!) this really wasn't my cup of tea. still, it's entertaining to read something that was written in a historical context so distant from ours: gave me a vague idea about how people used to go around and throw hands for the weirdest reasons lol

Chretien Troyes

Taking the legends surrounding King Arthur and weaving in new psychological elements of personal desire and courtly manner, Chrétien de Troyes fashioned a new form of medieval Romance. The Knight of the Cart is the first telling of the adulterous relationship between Lancelot and Arthur's Queen Guinevere, and in The Knight with the Lion Yvain neglects his bride in his quest for greater glory. Erec and Enide explores a knight's conflict between love and honour, Cligés exalts the possibility of pure love outside marriage, while the haunting The Story of the Grail chronicles the legendary quest. Rich in symbolism, these evocative tales combine closely observed detail with fantastic adventure to create a compelling world that profoundly influenced Malory, and are the basis of the Arthurian legends we know today.

I only read Yvain and Lancelot, but it was okay 

Arthurian Romances

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