Amadis of Gaul, Books I and II (Studies in Romance Languages) [Paperback]

Garci Rodriguez De Montalvo (Author), Herbert Behm (Author), Edwin Place (Author)

Book Description

Series: Studies in Romance Languages | Publication Date: January 10, 2003

" Includes a new Introduction by John E. Keller In the long history of European prose fiction, few works have been more influential and more popular than the romance of chivalry Amadis of Gaul. Although its original author is unknown, it was probably written during the early fourteenth century. The first great bestseller of the age of printing, Amadis of Gaul was translated into dozens of languages and spawned sequels and imitators over the centuries. A handsome, valiant, and undefeatable knight, Amadis is perhaps best known today as Don Quixote's favorite knight-errant and model. This exquisite English translation restores a masterpiece to print.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A most welcome arrival. It's availability opens up the possibility of a wider, general audience, and of teaching Amadis not only to the graduate comparatist, but also to the large undergraduate audience." -- Bulletin of Spanish Studies

"What made the original and its sequels international bestsellers in the early age of printing is bound to appeal to many modern readers. Amadis combines the sentimental with the chivalric, while adding bountiful measures of pure adventure and fantasy." -- La Coronica

"Set in and around England after the Roman era, but before the advent of Arthur, it tells the complex interwoven story of the adventures of Amadis, the greatest knight of all time.... This 16th century bestseller presents an exciting, past-paced and ultimately very entertaining story that modern readers should have little difficulty in appreciating." -- SF Site

Language Notes

Text: English, Spanish (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 688 pages
• Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky; 2 Sub edition (January 10, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813190347
• ISBN-13: 978-0813190341
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #439,185 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You've read the descendants, now read the original!, June 16, 2005

By 

D. J. Glassman (State College, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Amadis of Gaul, Books I and II (Studies in Romance Languages) (Paperback)

Amadis of Gaul is, in one word, classic. It's the novel from which all modern adventure and fantasy novels come from. It's insipired imitators and parodies, including Cervantes' equally classic Don Quixote--a book which has great reverence for Amadis itself. Knights, damsels, giants, dragons--this book truly has it all.

The best part is, the editors wrote this book so that it's easy for everyone to read. No preservation of archaic dialects here--pick this book up and you'll be able to read it with no problems. Recommended for all lovers of literature.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars True Knight Errantry!, August 17, 2009

By 

D. MATRANGA (Samarkand) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Amadis of Gaul, Books I and II (Studies in Romance Languages) (Paperback)

Once the paternity and early deeds of the main character have been established, Amadis of Gaul turns into a fine narrative devoid of that numbing lifelessness so typical of many other Medieval works, particularly the excruciatingly dull and unimaginative Malory collation of Arthur, Lancelot and Tristan legends (my apologies for provoking the ire of ardent medievalists, but truth be told reading Malory is a chore). I reckon Montalvo to be a Homer of sorts, who with deft hands subtly shapes, coloring and augmenting the existing legend into a more convincing and worldly work--amazingly enough, a work still suitable to our modern day sensibilites! Characters in Amadis have opinions, occasionally make sarcastic asides, and (believe it or not) engage in sexual intercourse, overall acting in a more human manner than any of their medieval literary counterparts. A comparison that comes to my mind is the way in which the stiff and rigid statues of medieval churches became more realistic by the re-introduction of the contrapposto technique. I initially purchased this because it's specifically mentioned during an amusing episode in Don Quixote where the curate, barber, the Don's niece and his housekeeper believe, in consigning his vast library of books of chivalry to the flames, they are curing him of his madness. It was exciting to come across a scene in Amadis that Cervantes clearly lampoons in Don Quixote involving Amadis bemoaning the fact he hasn't been able to give Gandalin, his squire, an island as recompense (all this before Amadis places himself into a self-imposed exile, another scenario also spoofed in DQ) for fealty to his master. If you've read Don Quixote you'll know that an island is the promised gift that becomes fantasized carrot and a relentless jeremiad for Sancho Panzo. If you liked Orlando Furioso (which I recommend in Waldman's readable prose translation) you will like this as well, perhaps a bit more. Despite being an academic press, which explains the higher cost, this work is a fun read and is rendered into a charming, simplified English by translators Herbert Behm and Edwin Place. It could easily fit in the Penguin classics catalog as a standard work.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Link to the past, June 24, 2011

By 

Boogerwood "I'm an Old" (Mansfield, TX) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Amadis of Gaul, Books I and II (Studies in Romance Languages) (Paperback)

I bought this book as a father's day gift to my father who is a direct decendent of the author (as am I, of course). I just wish to express my sincere gratitude to the translator/editor for bringing these inspiring texts back to life!

I hope you'll consider these works and keep the history alive!