{"product_id":"three-preludes-to-the-i-song-of-rolandi-9781843847373","title":"Three Preludes to the  Song of Roland","description":"\u003cb\u003eThe first  complete English translation of three \u003ci\u003echansons de geste\u003c\/i\u003e inspired by the Romance epic, the \u003ci\u003eSong of Roland\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe success of the eleventh-century \u003ci\u003eSong\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eof\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eRoland \u003c\/i\u003egave rise to a series of around twenty related \u003ci\u003echansons de geste\u003c\/i\u003e, known collectively as the Cycle of the King. In addition to reworkings of the \u003ci\u003eSong of Roland\u003c\/i\u003e in Old French and other medieval languages, these poems are devoted to the numerous military campaigns of Charlemagne against the Muslims before and after the tragic Battle of Roncevaux. These texts provide valuable insights into the medieval reception of the Roland material, exemplifying the process of cycle formation and attesting to the diversity of the Romance epic. Far from presenting a simplistic view of the clash of civilizations, these \u003ci\u003echansons de geste\u003c\/i\u003e display a web of contradictions, offering both a glorification and a critique of hatred and violence.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis volume offers English translations of the three epic poems whose action directly precedes the events of the \u003ci\u003eSong of Roland\u003c\/i\u003e.  \u003ci\u003eGui of Burgundy\u003c\/i\u003e extends the period of time spent in Spain by Charles and his army from seven to twenty-six years, which gives the sons of the Twelve Peers the opportunity to reach adulthood and come to the rescue of their fathers. \u003ci\u003eRoland at Saragossa, \u003c\/i\u003ecomposed in Occitan, takes place in the days immediately preceding the decisive defeat and relates in an heroi-comic manner how Roland sneaks into Saragossa at the request of the pagan Queen Braslimonda, who has been enraptured by his strength and beauty. Finally, \u003ci\u003eOtinel\u003c\/i\u003e tells of a Saracen envoy who comes to Paris to challenge Charlemagne on behalf of the Emir Garsile, who has his capital in Lombardy. The action takes place in France and northern Italy in a lull between the capture of Pamplona and the defeat at Roncevaux.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe translations are presented with notes, and the volume includes an introduction placing the poems in their wider historical and cultural contexts.","brand":"Bill Kibler","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42960206758006,"sku":"9781843847373","price":38.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0671\/1374\/6550\/files\/CoreSourceHub_6f6dda12-c9df-4434-8969-6723a20fca77.jpg?v=1767800452","url":"https:\/\/ingramacademic.com\/products\/three-preludes-to-the-i-song-of-rolandi-9781843847373","provider":"Ingram Academic \u0026 Professional","version":"1.0","type":"link"}