Synopses & Reviews
Eustace the Monk and Fouke Fitz Waryn belong in the great tradition of medieval outlaws, and aspects of their lives, part-fact, part-fiction, find a reflection in the life of that most famous of all outlaws, Robin Hood. Glyn Burgess puts into modern English the two romances of the thirteenth century which relate their deeds, Li Romans de Witasse le Moine and Fouke le Fitz Waryn. He presents the historical reality of their respective heroes', important but neglected figures: both were born around 1170; both broke with their overlords, the Count of Boulogne and King John, at around the same time; and both spent a period as outlaws, during which they toyed with their lords and exacted revenge for the injustice they suffered. Eustace was not only an outlaw and a sea captain, but a pirate and magician; he was one of the most feared men of his day. Fouke's life was dominated by his attempt to take possession of Whittington Castle in Shropshire, to which his family laid claim./ Alongside the historical discussion of the lives of the protagonists of the two romances, Glyn Burgess reveals the multiple layers of the romances themselves: historically verifiable facts, information which cannot be proved but rings true, and a wide range of material which is manifestly imaginary, containing stock motifs also found in other romances of the period. His bringing to life of two forgotten outlaws is a fascinating context for his spirited translation of the romances. GLYN S. BURGESS is Emeritus Professor of French at the University of Liverpool.
Synopsis
Eustace the Monk and Fouke Fitz Waryn III are part of the great tradition of medieval outlaws, and numerous aspects of their lives are reflected in the life of Robin Hood himself. Both Eustace d. 1217] and Fouke d. ca. 1258] inspired verse romances to be written about their activities the verse tale of Fouke and his adventures is lost, but we have a prose version composed in the first half of the fourteenth century]. The present volume provides an English translation of these vernacular romances, together with a detailed survey of the historical background. Each romance contains historically verifiable facts, information that rings true although it cannot be proved, and a certain amount of imaginary material drawing on stock motifs which surface again in later outlaw tales. Eustace and Fouke are also both outlaws and tricksters, who use a variety of ruses to escape capture at the hands of their overlords, respectively the Count of Boulogne and King John.
Synopsis
Fascinating insights into medieval life. THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT
Eustace the Monk and Fouke Fitz Waryn belong in the great tradition of medieval outlaws, and aspects of their lives, part-fact, part-fiction, find a reflection in the life of that most famous of all outlaws, Robin Hood. Glyn Burgess puts into modern English the two romances of the thirteenth century which relate their deeds, Li Romans de Witasse le Moine and Fouke le Fitz Waryn. He presents the historical reality of their respective heroes, important but neglected figures: both were born around 1170; both broke with their overlords, the count of Boulogne and King John, at around the same time; and both spent a period as outlaws, during which they toyed with their lords and exacted revenge for the injustice they suffered. Eustace was not only an outlaw and a sea captain, but a pirate and magician; he was one of the most feared men of his day. Fouke's life was dominated by his attempt to takepossession of Whittington Castle in Shropshire, to which his family laid claim.
Alongside the historical discussion of the lives of the protagonists of the two romances, Glyn Burgess reveals the multiple layers of the romances themselves: historically verifiable facts, information which cannot be proved but rings true, and a wide range of material which is manifestly imaginary, containing stock motifs also found in other romances of the period. His bringing to life of two forgotten outlaws is a fascinating context for his spirited translation of the romances.
GLYN S. BURGESS is Emeritus Professor of French at the University of Liverpool.
Synopsis
Two major medieval outlaws, and the nature of their outlawry, become more clearly visible through Burgess's most welcome volume which ... stimulates more work on outlaw themes from the middle ages. MEDIUM AEVUM Historical fact and literary discussion accompany translations of medieval romances based on lives of two 12c outlaws.