The Arthur of the North
The Arthurian Legend in the Norse and Rus’ Realms
9781783167876
Distributed for University of Wales Press
The Arthur of the North
The Arthurian Legend in the Norse and Rus’ Realms
In The Arthur of the North, Marianne E. Kalinke offers the first book-length study of the Arthurian literature translated from French and Latin into Old Norse-Icelandic in the thirteenth century. Preserved mostly in Icelandic manuscripts, in early modern times these Scandinavian Arthurian legends inspired the composition of narrative poems and chapbooks in Denmark, Iceland, and Norway, chiefly of the Tristan legend. The importation of Arthurian literature in the North, primarily French romances and lais, is indebted largely to the efforts of King Hákon Hákonarson (r. 1217–63) of Norway, who commissioned the translation of Thomas de Bretagne’s Tristan in 1226, and subsequently several Arthurian romances by Chrétien de Troyes and a number of Breton lais. Kalinke shows the transmission of foreign courtly literature in the non-courtly culture of Iceland, and the changes taken on in narrative and style as the tales made their way north.
Reviews
Table of Contents
Preface
Ad Putter
Introduction
Marianne E. Kalinke
1. The Introduction of the Arthurian Legend in Scandinavia
Marianne E. Kalinke
2. Sources, Translations, Redactions, Manuscript Transmission
Marianne E. Kalinke
3. Breta sögur and Merlínússpá
Stefanie Gropper
4. The Tristan Legend
Geraldine Barnes
5. The Translated Lais
Carolyne Larrington
6. The Old Norse-Icelandic Transmission of Chrétien de Troyes’s Romances: Ívens saga, Erex saga, Parcevals saga with Valvens þáttr
Claudia Bornholdt
7. The Old Swedish Hærra Ivan Leons riddare
William Layher
8. Arthurian Echoes in Indigenous Icelandic Sagas
Marianne E. Kalinke
9. Arthurian Ballads, rímur, Chapbooks and Folktales
M. J. Driscoll
10. Arthurian Literature in East Slavic
Susana Torres Prieto
General Bibliography
Marianne E. Kalinke
Index of Manuscripts
General Index
Ad Putter
Introduction
Marianne E. Kalinke
1. The Introduction of the Arthurian Legend in Scandinavia
Marianne E. Kalinke
2. Sources, Translations, Redactions, Manuscript Transmission
Marianne E. Kalinke
3. Breta sögur and Merlínússpá
Stefanie Gropper
4. The Tristan Legend
Geraldine Barnes
5. The Translated Lais
Carolyne Larrington
6. The Old Norse-Icelandic Transmission of Chrétien de Troyes’s Romances: Ívens saga, Erex saga, Parcevals saga with Valvens þáttr
Claudia Bornholdt
7. The Old Swedish Hærra Ivan Leons riddare
William Layher
8. Arthurian Echoes in Indigenous Icelandic Sagas
Marianne E. Kalinke
9. Arthurian Ballads, rímur, Chapbooks and Folktales
M. J. Driscoll
10. Arthurian Literature in East Slavic
Susana Torres Prieto
General Bibliography
Marianne E. Kalinke
Index of Manuscripts
General Index
Be the first to know
Get the latest updates on new releases, special offers, and media highlights when you subscribe to our email lists!