The Legend of Charlemagne in Medieval England: The Matter of France in Middle English and Anglo-Norman Literature
Marianne Ailes|Phillipa Hardman
The Matter of France, the legendary history Charlemagne, had a central but now largely unrecognised place in multilingual culture medieval England. From early claim Chanson de Roland that Charlemagne held England as his personal domain, to later proliferation Middle English romances materials are woven into insular political and cultural imagination. However, unlike wide range continental French romances, tradition concentrates on stories few heroic characters: Roland, Fierebras, Otinel. Why did writers audiences turn again these narratives, rewirting reinterpreting them for more than two hundred years? This book is first full-length study tradition. It investigates currency impact France with equal attention French-language texts, setting each individual manuscript or printed text its contemporary context. narratives revealed be extraordinarily adaptable, using iconic opposition between Carolingian Saracen heroes reflect concerns national politics, religious identity, future Christendom, chivalry ethics, monarchy treason. Phillipa Hardman Reader Medieval Literature (retired) at University Reading; Marianne Ailes Senior Lecturer Bristol.