The Knight and the Barrel (Le Chevalier Au Barisel) - (Manchester Medieval Literature and Culture) (Hardcover)

About the Book

This is the first English translation of the canonical Old French text Le Chevalier au barisel. It includes the original text and a facing-page translation, as well as an extensive introduction and notes.

Book Synopsis

Le Chevalier au barisel is an established part of the Old French literary canon, but up to now it has not been available in English. This translation offers a vibrant but scholarly version of the exciting short story, suitable for a wide readership including university students, scholars of associated disciplines (history, English, theology, fine arts, comparative literature, etc.) and general readers. The greatest strength of the book is the translation itself, which can be read without reference to the original text or alongside the medieval French. But also valuable is the apparatus surrounding the text: cultural rather than linguistic, explicative rather than excessively technical. A substantial commentary reveals the internal struggles of the protagonists, highlights existing research and suggests future lines of enquiry. This commentary is a freestanding work of rigorous scholarship that makes plentiful reference to the text.

From the Back Cover

'I am a priest and as such I beseech you,
in the name of Him who by dying on the cross
sacrificed Himself for us,
to speak with me a little.'

'Speak? Hellfire! Me? What about?'

The Knight and the Barrel (Le Chevalier au barisel) is an Old French story dating from the beginning of the thirteenth century. It tells the tale of depraved and godless baron who is persuaded by his knights to visit a hermit for confession. Stubbornly refusing the conventional acts of penance, the baron finally agrees to fill a small barrel at a stream, only to discover that the task is much more difficult than he had imagined.

An established part of the Old French canon, The Knight and the Barrel is a brutally intimate portrait of conversion. It draws from numerous traditions, including epic, romance, comedy, pious materials and miracle stories. This first English translation preserves the humour and liveliness of the original, making it suitable for students, scholars and the general reader. It is presented in a facing-page format for easy reference, with detailed notes and a rich introductory essay that explores the internal struggles of the protagonists, highlights existing research and suggests future lines of enquiry.

Review Quotes

'...by the time readers finish perusing the illuminating, accessible, and authoritative introduction to his translation, they will be primed to like it [The Knight and the Barrel] too, and eager to jump into the text for themselves. With no small amount of finesse and dexterity, Tudor manages to make a tale about a terrible person, who endures physical suffering and social degradation, both inviting and engaging for the modern audience... As one reads Tudor's insightful commentary and lively translation, one may be surprised that it has taken this long to reach a wider audience.'
H-France Review

About the Author

Adrian P. Tudor is Senior Lecturer in French at the University of Hull