Chrétien's Equal: Raoul de Houdenc: Complete Works(Arthurian Studies)

The writers of later romances deemed Raoul's work worthy of memory on a par with the Prose Lancelot, and placed Raoul and Chretien on the same level in terms of authority. Raoul de Houdenc was a major and innovative figure in 13th-century French literature. His surviving works are unusually diverse: they include an impassioned tract about the values of chivalry (The Romance of the Wings), two superbly crafted Arthurian romances (Meraugis of Portlesguez and The Avenging of Raguidel), and a swingeing polemic against declining standards especially among the bourgeoisie (The Burgess's Burgeoning Blight). And with his hugely influential satire The Dream of Hell he was the very first to compose allegory in the vernacular, mastering to perfection the art of parody and the unexpected. After a long period of neglect Raoul is finally receiving the scholarly attention he deserves, and this is the first translation into English of his complete surviving works. The Avenging of Raguidel 'must surely be counted as one of the most fascinating and innovative of the French Gawain romances' - Norris J. Lacy.

Table of Contents:
Introduction Dates Manuscripts and Editions: The Texts Translated Further Reading The Romance of the Wings Meraugis of Portlesguez Sir Gawain and the Avenging of Raguidel The Burgess's Burgeoning Blight The Dream of Hell The Path to Paradise Index to Meraugis of Portlesguez Index to The Avenging of Raguidel

About the Author :
NIGEL BRYANT is well known for his lively and accurate versions of medieval French works. His translations of Chrétien de Troyes' Perceval and all its continuations and of the extraordinary late Arthurian romance Perceforest have been major achievements; he has also translated Jean le Bel's history of the early stages of the Hundred Years War, and the 13th- and 14th-century biographies of William Marshal and Bertrand du Guesclin. He was awarded the 2019 Norris J. Lacy Prize for outstanding editorial achievement in Arthurian studies.

Review :
a real service to scholarship, both for students and professional academics alike. N. Bryant's book, presented in a beautifully crafted edition. The book also has the significant advantage of compiling for the first time the entire translated works of Raoul and the pseudo-Raoul, thereby facilitating their knowledge, which is no small benefit. Le livre de N. Bryant, présenté dans une édition de belle facture. Le livre présente également l'avantage significatif de rassembler pour la première fois l'ensemble des œuvres traduites de Raoul et du pseudo-Raoul, facilitant ainsi leur connaissance, ce qui n'est pas négligeable.