Customer Reviews

The Song of Roland

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This is a French epic... The reading of it should be done very similarly to reading the Iliad. It is the tale of Charlemagne's knight Roland and his fight in the battle with/ambush by the Saracens. Although having historical background, it is an epic. Roland is the Christian hero who by providence is led into the struggle against the pagan enemies. This edition is a good edition with a strong introduction. Also the translation is great, with a good attempt being made at keeping the rythm/ iambic pentameter. Recommended reading for anyone interested in medieval literature. Also it serves as the basis of other works such as Orlando Innamorato and Orlando Furioso.

This is a modern English verse translation of an important medieval French epic. This is reputedly a good translation and it certainly reads easily. The story is known well. Charlemagne and his Christian army have conquered almost all of Muslim Spain. The remaining Muslim monarch, Marsilion of Saragossa, promises Charlemagne that he will convert and become Charlemagne's vassal if the French withdraw. Marsilion and a renegade French nobleman, Ganelon, conspire to ambush the French rearguard in an isolated mountain pass. The rearguard is led by Charlemagne's nephew and favorite vassal, Roland, who is also Ganelon's stepson. Much bloodshed follows. The Song of Roland is a celebration of chivalric virtues, with an emphasis on the Christian obligations of Knighthood. The poet glorifies combat, the importance of the feudal bond, and crucial role of knights as Christian warriors. There is an excellent introduction by Goldin covering the history of the poem, its content, its ideology, and its prosody. The quality of the poetry is not great.