The Reign of Chivalry [Hardcover]

Richard W. Barber (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1980

Profusely illustrated and redesigned for a new generation of readers, Richard Barber's classic The Reign of Chivalry presents a broad picture of the chivalric world, and shows how chivalry affected or was affected by great social movements, great writers and great events, and analyses the legacy it passed down to later ages. The opening chapter looks at the central figure of the whole chivalric world, the knight, and asks why he is such a different figure from other fighting men. Following sections deal with chivalry in relation to the main themes of medieval literature, especially the vast cycle of Arthurian romances, and discuss the attitudes towards chivalry of writers such as Jean Froissart, whose pages cast a golden glow over the harsh realities of war. Later sections look at chivalry's influence on the Renaissance and later culture, beginning with the knight's transition to gentleman. The element by which chivalry is now most remembered, its respectful, even adoring, attitude towards women, is the subject of a wide-ranging discussion, covering both medieval reality and modern ideals.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Beautifully illustrated, detailed and clearly written, Barber's book is a fine introduction for the general reader. His chapter on courtly poetry and romance is the best short treatment of the subject I've come across in a decade of intermittent teaching on medieval literature. TOUCHSTONEVery attractive (and) makes a fascinating yet complex subject accessible to all. THE RICARDIANAn extremely well-researched and well-structured book...(produced to) the highest quality, with particularly fine colour and black and white reproductions. JOURNAL OF THE AUSTRALIAN EARLY MEDIEVAL ASSOCIATIONA very accessible text that both informs and entertains, enhanced greatly by full colour illustrations from period sources with accompanying photographs. WWW.RANDLESREVIEWS.CO.UK Written in an engaging style, and gloriously illustrated throughout. ENGLISH HISTORICAL REVIEW --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Richard Barber, author of Holy Grail: History of a Legend, Myths and Legends of the British Isles and King Arthur: Hero and Legend, has written an engaging and intriguing book on one of the most original concepts of the medieval mind. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: St Martins Pr; First Edition edition (August 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312669941
• ISBN-13: 978-0312669942
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,938,426 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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