Gesta Principum Polonorum: The Deeds of the Princes of the Poles (Central European Medieval Texts) [Hardcover]

Gallus Anonymus (Author), Gallus (Author), Knoll (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2003 | Series: Central European Medieval Texts (Book 3)

Written around 1112-1116, The Deeds of the Princes of the Poles is the oldest narrative source from Poland formerly attributed to 'Gallus, ' a French monk. The anonymous author tells the ancient history of Poland down to the reign of Boleslaw Ill.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

After years of detailed and meticulous work by a team of historians, editors and translators, a bilingual edition of The Deeds of the Princes of the Poles (Gesta principum Polonorum), a major (indeed, unique) literary source for the history and society of early Poland, has now been published. The readable modern English—the first translation into that language--is a faithful equivalent of the Latin text, which is as accurate and authentic as modern scholarship can establish.

Generations of Polish school-children have learned about the Gesta of the nameless Frenchman, Gallus Anonymus, whose identity, however, has lately been disputed. The introduction and notes to this volume seek to provide the interested reader and the scholar with all relevant background information about this chronicle.

But the most important is the text itself in two languages:

Bolezlaus dux inclitus Duke Boleslaw, the illustrious,
Dei dono progenitus By God's grace was engendered thus:
Hic per preces Egidij His entry into life he made
Sumpsit causam exordii. When prayers of St. Giles were said.

Or:

Hic autem Semimizl magnum et memorandum Meschonem progenuit, qui primus nomine vocatus illo VII annis a nativitate cecus fuit.

Siemomysl's son was the great and memorable Mieszko, the first of that name, who was blind for the first seven years of his life.

About the Author

Edited and translated by Paul W. Knoll University of Southern California and Frank Schaer, Central European University General editor: Janos M. Bak, Central European University With a preface by Thomas Bisson, Harvard University

Product Details

• Hardcover: 374 pages
• Publisher: Central European University Press (March 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9639241407
• ISBN-13: 978-9639241404
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.9 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,051,619 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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