Arthur of the North - The Arthurian Legend in the Norse and Rus'' Realms

In The Arthur of the North, Marianne E. Kalinke offers the first book-length study of the Arthurian literature translated from French and Latin into Old Norse-Icelandic in the thirteenth century. Preserved mostly in Icelandic manuscripts, in early modern times these Scandinavian Arthurian legends inspired the composition of narrative poems and chapbooks in Denmark, Iceland, and Norway, chiefly of the Tristan legend. The importation of Arthurian literature in the North, primarily French romances and lais, is indebted largely to the efforts of King Hákon Hákonarson (r. 1217-63) of Norway, who commissioned the translation of Thomas de Bretagne's Tristan in 1226, and subsequently several Arthurian romances by Chrétien de Troyes and a number of Breton lais. Kalinke shows the transmission of foreign courtly literature in the non-courtly culture of Iceland, and the changes taken on in narrative and style as the tales made their way north.

About the author

Marianne E. Kalinke is professor emerita of Germanic languages and literatures at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Summary

The Arthur of the North introduces the reader to tales about King Arthur and his knights, and the lovers Tristan and Isolt, that circulated in the Middle Ages and early modern times in Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

Product details

• Authors: Marianne E. Kalinke
• Assisted by: Marianne E. Kalinke (Editor), Kalinke Marianne E. (Editor)
• Publisher: University of Wales Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 20.11.2015
• EAN: 9781783167876
• ISBN: 978-1-78316-787-6
• No. of pages: 240
• Series: Arthurian Literature in the Mi; Arthurian Literature in the Middle Ages; Arthurian Literature in the Middle Ages
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative literary studies; Legend, French, European History, Arthur, Latin, LITERARY CRITICISM / Ancient & Classical, LITERARY CRITICISM / European / French, LITERARY CRITICISM / European / Scandinavian, Norse, of, Medieval History, Literary studies: classical, early & medieval, Northern Europe, Scandinavia, Realms, North, European history: medieval period, middle ages, Literature: history and criticism, Literary studies: ancient, classical and medieval, HISTORY / Europe / Medieval, HISTORY / Europe / Nordic Countries, Arthurian, Rus'