Perceforest - (Arthurian Studies) (Hardcover)

About the Book

A highly readable version of this remarkable and largely unexplored work.

Book Synopsis

Perceforest is one of the largest and certainly the most extraordinary of the late Arthurian romances, and is the subject of rapidly increasing attention and research. It is set in pagan times, and tells the history of Britain before Arthur, with many extraordinary and magical adventures. Because of its enormous length - it runs to over a million words - Nigel Bryant has provided a version which gives a full synopsis of the plot and all the episodes linking extensive passages of translation

Review Quotes

[A] gripping new abridged translation of the Old French Perceforest [...] while interest in the Arthurian legend remains strong, this Old French text demonstrates that the medieval prehistory of Britain's once and future king is no less fascinating.-- "TLS"

An English translation of the fascinating, but little known, Roman de Perceforest is a welcome contribution that should help make this text more accessible both to undergraduates, and to medievalists from fields outside French Studies.-- "MEDIUM AEVUM"

Perceforest has attracted increasing attention from scholars in recent years, and this adaptation, which must have been a huge undertaking, helpfully provides a flavour of the romance for the benefit of a wider readership.-- "MODERN LANGUAGE REVIEW"

Brewer is to be congratulated on its enormous contribution to Arthurian studies over past decades. [...] Bryant has given us a delightfully fast-paced read which rattles along through quests, battles, beautiful maidens and enchantments. [...] A wonderful addition to the Arthurian corpus.-- "FORTEAN TIMES"

Faced with this fascinating but enormous text [...] the translator and publisher of this [book] [.] took a very sensible decision: to publish a modern, easy-to-read, re-telling in English, which includes all the stories, but not every word of the text. [...] The introduction [...] discusses the many remarkable sides to the fourteenth-century, anonymous author's view of the world.-- "THE RICARDIAN"

Quoi qu'il en soit, cet imposant volume constitue une importante contribution au champ des études arthuriennes et apparentées, et facilite considérablement l'accès à l'une des ouvres les plus fascinantes de la fin du Moyen Âge.-- "CAHIERS DE RECHERCHES MÉDIÉVALES ET HUMANISTES"

Scholars and students owe Nigel Bryant a debt of gratitude, for his new English translation makes the Perceforest truly accessible for the first time to those wishing to engage with its marvellous episodes. [...] One can imagine the possibility of using this text - or large sections of it - in the classroom, something preciously difficult or impossible.-- "MEDIEVAL REVIEW"