Three Preludes to the Song of Roland [EPUB ebook] 
Gui of Burgundy , Roland at Saragossa , and Otinel

The first complete English translation of three chansons de geste inspired by the Romance epic, the Song of Roland.


The success of the eleventh-century
Song
of
Roland gave rise to a series of around twenty related
chansons de geste, known collectively as the Cycle of the King. In addition to reworkings of the
Song of Roland in Old French and other medieval languages, these poems are devoted to the numerous military campaigns of Charlemagne against the Muslims before and after the tragic Battle of Roncevaux. These texts provide valuable insights into the medieval reception of the Roland material, exemplifying the process of cycle formation and attesting to the diversity of the Romance epic. Far from presenting a simplistic view of the clash of civilizations, these
chansons de geste display a web of contradictions, offering both a glorification and a critique of hatred and violence.


This volume offers English translations of the three epic poems whose action directly precedes the events of the
Song of Roland.
Gui of Burgundy extends the period of time spent in Spain by Charles and his army from seven to twenty-six years, which gives the sons of the Twelve Peers the opportunity to reach adulthood and come to the rescue of their fathers.
Roland at Saragossa, composed in Occitan, takes place in the days immediately preceding the decisive defeat and relates in an heroi-comic manner how Roland sneaks into Saragossa at the request of the pagan Queen Braslimonda, who has been enraptured by his strength and beauty. Finally,
Otinel tells of a Saracen envoy who comes to Paris to challenge Charlemagne on behalf of the Emir Garsile, who has his capital in Lombardy. The action takes place in France and northern Italy in a lull between the capture of Pamplona and the defeat at Roncevaux.


The translations are presented with notes, and the volume includes an introduction placing the poems in their wider historical and cultural contexts.

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Acknowledgements

General Introduction

The
chansons de geste

The Battle of Roncevaux

Prequels to the
Song of Roland

Perspectives on Charlemagne

Women’s Roles

Muslim Warriors

Translating the
chansons de geste

Gui of Burgundy


Roland at Saragossa


Otinel


Glossary


Select Bibliography


Index of Proper Names

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Catherine Jones is the Josiah Meigs Professor of French and Provençal at the University of Georgia.