The Lais of Marie de France (Penguin Classics) (Old French) 2nd Edition

by Marie de France (Author), Glyn S. Burgess (Translator, Introduction), Keith Busby (Translator, Introduction)

50 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0140447590

ISBN-10: 0140447598

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Marie de France (fl. late twelfth century) is the earliest known French woman poet and her lais - stories in verse based on Breton tales of chivalry and romance - are among the finest of the genre. Recounting the trials and tribulations of lovers, the lais inhabit a powerfully realized world where very real human protagonists act out their lives against fairy-tale elements of magical beings, potions and beasts. De France takes a subtle and complex view of courtly love, whether telling the story of the knight who betrays his fairy mistress or describing the noblewoman who embroiders her sad tale on the shroud for a nightingale killed by a jealous and suspicious husband.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Glyn S. Burgess is currently Professor of French and Head of Department at the University of Liverpool. He has translated 'The Song of Roland' for Penguin Classics and he has published widely on 12th-century courtly literature. Keith Busby is George Lynn Cross Research Professor of French and Director of the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at the University of Oklahoma.

Product details

Series: Penguin Classics
Paperback: 164 pages
Publisher: Penguin Classics; 2nd edition (June 1, 1999)
Language: English, Old French
ISBN-10: 0140447598
ISBN-13: 978-0140447590
Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.4 x 7.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 50 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #117,041 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #10 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Regional & Cultural > European > French
- #48 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > Literature > World Literature > European
- #64 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Ancient & Medieval Literature > Greek

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The French Renaissance of the 12th Century.

May 18, 2006

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Before the famous Italian Renaissance, you could speak of a French Renaissance in the 12th century as far as literature is concerned.
In Southern France there were the Troubadours, singers and poets, often part of the nobility or their entourage. In the North of France you had Chretien de Troyes and his Arthurian romances and the Lais of Marie de France, to name only two of the most important.
The 'Roman de la Rose' was written in the 13th cent. but is probably the most important masterwork of the French Renaissance.

About the person of Marie de France almost nothing is known for certain.Her 'Lais' - stories about romance or adventure - are based upon the popular and folkloristic tales that already existed for centuries in Bretagne - a region close to where the Atlantic meets the North-Sea.
These stories were handed down from generation to generation by story tellers.
The Lais of Marie de France excel by diversity. There are love stories - of course - but also vivid descriptions of
tournaments and even a story about a werewolf.
Marie de France proofs that medieval literature can be entertaining.

35 people found this helpful

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My Terrier is a Terror

Enlightening view of Medieval Times

September 9, 2018

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I didn't expect to like this as much as I did. Often humorous, this book demonstrates various aspects of Medieval times that I was oblivious to before reading it. Certainly worth the money.

One person found this helpful

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Harrington B Laufman

As enjoyable today as in the 12th century

October 1, 2004

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

The Hanning and Ferrante edition of Marie de France's lais is satisfying on two levels. First, the translation and commentary are unsurpassed. Second, the twelve short tales are gems themselves.

Translation of poetry from one modern language to another is difficult, let alone from Anglo-Norman French to modern English. This edition manages it beautifully. Abandoning the original's octosyllabic couplets for free verse, the brevity and simplicity of the verse are preserved.

An introduction sets the lais in place and time. Essentially nothing is known of Marie de France personally, so the introduction centers on the history, culture, and language of the 12th century. Modest footnotes supplement the text, but the strongest editorial contributions are the commentaries that follow each lai. While not completely necessary to an understanding of the stories, which can stand on their own, the commentary definitely enriches one's experience of these old Celtic/Breton tales.

Marie herself offers commentary on the tales as a whole in a Prologue, and frequently with a short statement at the beginning of an individual lai. This multiple framing of story within author commentary within modern commentary gives the reader great richness and depth. Marie's short but dense prologue offers philosophy and theory of writing that is still being reinterpreted.

The lais themselves are self contained and unconnected in plot, but typically involve a chilvaric episode or a courtly love situation, and a complication. The narrative moves quickly. These are not dull and laborious love stories, but adventures. In fact much is made in the critical world of the word "aventure" which translates as chance and luck as well as adventure.

Marie de France is known for using a marvel as a plot device. A marvel is a strange, exotic, sometimes magical, element upon which the story hinges. Milun and his lover, for example, exchange love letters for twenty years - love letters carried secretly between them by a swan.

Marie de France was likely a slyly disruptive force in the masculine court that she seems to be writing for. Bold and brave women are the rule. A reversal of masculine and feminine roles is not unusual. In Lanval a randy lady faerie queen, a pucelle, and her female knights completely overpower King Arthur and his court in a bloodless but completely effective rescue mission of a wrongly accused knight. The accuser is Arthur's queen, Guenivere is not named specifically, who definitely shows us her dark side.

I recommend this book to almost all readers, and certainly to anyone interested in the middle ages, courtly love, Arthurian legends, or women's literature.

48 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Such A Great Book!!!

September 9, 2018

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

The different lais each had something to do with platonic love and whether an arranged marriage. I had to read this book for school and this book at first glance is confusing, but once you understand the meaning of everything in each story you will find it to be a great book.

Comment

charming old romances

November 9, 2002

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is a wonderful collection of old old Breton tales written into poems by Marie de France in the 12th century. Who exactly Marie was is a bit of an enigma, as the introduction to the book explains. But she was unquestionably a gifted writer: her lais, written to entertain courtly audiences, vary colourfully one from another, and positively sparkle with romance, passion, and wit. Mostly they tell of grand loves between courtly young men and comely noble maidens, and there is some great obstacle to overcome. Some endings are happy, others tragic; there is always a great test of the spirit, with notions of loyalty, honesty, honour, and true love playing into the mix. The scenes when lovers get together can be downright ... (in a subtle medieval sort of way). The translation puts the poems into prose, though the language remains poetic. Altogether, you can see why these gems of stories have lasted 800+ years.

32 people found this helpful

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Worth the extra money for this version

June 29, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Has very useful analysis after each poem. Wonderful translation.

2 people found this helpful

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Marget Lippincott

Excellent edition

December 22, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

The format of this edition worked well. The original old French (Picardy) is on one page and modern English on the other. After each tale is an excellent literary discussion. It fortifies the reader's understanding of the Laie just read. This was an academic edition that is great reading for any modern reader. The tales all involve the strange rules of Bretton mystery.

5 people found this helpful

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Tony Marquise Jr.

Poems from Another World

December 4, 2012

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

These poems were written in the very early Middle Ages and describe a different life- view than we have today. WE cannot know this world unless we read the literature of the people who lived in it. Marie de France was a great writer with a good imagination . The lais are interesting and entertaining reading. This is agood but not great translation. I recommend this book and hope a great translation will come soon.

2 people found this helpful

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