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

by Garci Rodriguez De Montalvo (Author), Herbert Behm (Author), Edwin Place (Author) "HERE BEGINS THE FIRST BOOK of the courageous and virtuous knight Amadis, son of King Perion of Gaul and of Queen Elisena, which was corrected..." (more)
Key Phrases: King Lisuarte, Child of the Sea, Don Galaor (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Spanish Amadis de Gaula Prose romance of chivalry, possibly Portuguese in origin. The first known version of this work, dating from 1508, was written in Spanish by Garci Ordonez (or Rodriguez) de Montalvo, who claimed to have "corrected and emended" corrupt originals. Internal evidence suggests that the Amadis had been in circulation since the early 14th century or even the late 13th. In Montalvo's version, Amadis was the most handsome, upright, and valiant of knights. The story of his incredible feats of arms, in which he is never defeated, was interwoven with that of his love for Oriana, daughter of Lisuarte, king of England. Many characters in the Amadis were based on figures from Celtic romance, and the work was very like Arthurian legend in spirit. It differed, however, from the Arthurian cycle in several important respects. Whereas earlier romance had reflected a feudal society, the Amadis invested the monarchy with an authority that heralds the advent of absolutism. And Amadis himself was more idealized than such earlier heroes as Lancelot and Tristan. In the 16th century a number of sequels and feeble imitations appeared, the fashion being given its deathblow by parody early in the 17th century in Miguel de Cervantes' novel Don Quixote (though Cervantes held the original in high esteem). The first English adaptation of the Amadis appeared in 1567; one of the best English translations is an abridged version by the poet Robert Southey, first published in 1803. -- The Merriam-Webster Encylopedia of Literature --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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" -- 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" -- 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" -- SF Site

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Product Details

• Paperback: 688 pages
• Publisher: University Press of Kentucky; 2 Sub edition (January 10, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813190347
• ISBN-13: 978-0813190341
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 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 (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #639,303 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 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)

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.

13 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars El mejor libro sobre caballeria., March 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Amadis of Gaul: A Novel of Chivalry of the 14th Century Presumably First Written in Spanish (Studies in Romance Languages, 11) (Hardcover)

Ya muy bien lo dijo el ingenioso hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha : "-Quiero, Sancho, que sepas que el famoso Amadis de Gaula fue uno de los mas perfectos caballeros andantes. No he dicho bien fue uno: fue el solo, el primero, el unico, el seqor de todos cuantos hubo en su tiempo en el mundo." Basta con escuchar estas palabras de boca del gran caballero de la Mancha (o de la pluma de Cervantes!?!) para despertar la curiosidad por leer esta obra tan magna y propia para cualquier caballero moderno o practicante del arte de Jugar al Rol. Una verdadera obra donde la fuerza de la espada y la pasion del amor se dan cita en un solo hombre Amadis de Gaula.