Lancelot of the Lake (Worlds Classics) [Paperback]

Corin Corley (Translator), Elspeth Kennedy (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 27, 1989 | Series: Worlds Classics

Written early in the 13th century in French prose by an unknown author, this tale of the most famous Arthurian knight was translated and adapted throughout the Middle Ages into other languages. Its influence was felt by Dante, Malory, T.H.White and Tennyson, among others. This is the first English translation of the original short version of the story, which begins with Lancelot's birth in the lake and ends with the death of his friend Galehot. The tale follows Lancelot's childhood, his arrival at King Arthur's court and the great exploits which earned his reputation, and gives details of the concepts of feudalism and chivalry. Most importantly, it traces Lancelot's legendary love affair with Queen Guinevere.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Corley's new translation from the medieval original makes the tale nicely accessible to the modern reader' Peter Finch, Wales on Sunday

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)

Product Details

• Paperback: 472 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (April 27, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192817566
• ISBN-13: 978-0192817563
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,347,517 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Affordable, but not comprehensive, March 8, 2005

By 

Donald Gow (Glen Burnie, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lancelot of the Lake (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)

This translation of Elspeth Kennedy's groundbreaking edition of the original, short-form romance of Lancelot Do Lac is extremely helpful to readers interested both in Old French medieval romance and Thomas Malory and his sources. The Prose Lancelot went on to become the centerpiece to the massive Vulgate or Lancelot-Grail cycle of romances which spanned the tale from the arrival of the Grail in Britain all the way to King Arthur's passing.

This version, however, is centered solely on the youthful adventures of Lancelot - how he was raised in the magical Lake, came to Camelot to be knighted, fell in love with the Queen, and made a name for himself while in her service. It covers the discovery of his name and his intense friendship with Galehaut, a man who literally gives up everything to secure the friendship of the title character. This early version of the story ends with Galehaut's death, and is not linked to the begetting of Galahad, the quest for the Grail, or the eventual fall of the Round Table.

The other drawback is that, in order to keep the edition inexpensive enough to meet the needs of the student, those segments of the romance not directly concerned with Lancelot (including a large number of adventures of Gawain, Hector, and Bors) are dealt with in short summaries rather than full translation.

However, until the full cycle is available in an expensive paperback series (the full Lancelot-Grail cycle was recently translated by a team of scholars, headed by Norris J. Lacy, as Lancelot-Grail: The Old French Arthurian Vulgate and Post-Vulgate Cycles in Translation, but only in hardcover at an outrageously scholarly edition price) this will fill the need for at least a taste of the original Lancelot story.