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In the first quarter of the thirteenth century, an anonymous Flemish writer set in writing, in Old French, a chronicle of Normandy, England, Flanders and northern France. Janet Shirley's translation of this chronicle, the first into English, brings the work of the Anonymous of Béthune to a new audience.
List of contents
1. Introduction 2. The History of the Dukes of Normandy and the Kings of England 3. Appendix I: Manuscript sources containing the work of the Anonymous of Béthune 4. Appendix II: Manuscript sources containing work wrongly attributed to the Anonymous of Béthune
About the author
Janet Shirley (1928-2017) was an accomplished translator, noted for translations of medieval French sources into modern English. These ranged from the Journal d’un bourgeois de Paris, to Garnier’s Becket, the Song of Roland, the Song of the Cathar Wars, continuations of William of Tyre, and works by Bernard Gui and William de Machaut.
Paul Webster is Lecturer at Cardiff University, where he coordinates the Exploring the Past adult learners’ pathway, a partnership between the Division of Continuing and Professional Education and the School of History, Archaeology and Religion. He teaches and researches medieval history, including kingship, piety and the cult of the saints.
Summary
In the first quarter of the thirteenth century, an anonymous Flemish writer set in writing, in Old French, a chronicle of Normandy, England, Flanders and northern France. Janet Shirley’s translation of this chronicle, the first into English, brings the work of the Anonymous of Béthune to a new audience.
