The Bruce: or, The Book of the Most Excellent and Noble Prince, Robert de Broyss, King of Scots

by John Lydgate, John Barbour

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

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Genres: Scotland, History, Poetry, Classics, Historical

268 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1375

About the author

John Lydgate of Bury (c. 1370 – c. 1451) was a monk and poet. He was admitted to the Benedictine monastery of Bury St. Edmunds at fifteen and became a monk there a year later. Having literary ambitions (he was an admirer of Geoffrey Chaucer and a friend to his son, Thomas) he sought and obtained patronage for his literary work at the courts of Henry IV of England, Henry V of England and Henry VI of England. Other patrons included the mayor and aldermen of London, the chapter of St. Paul's Cathedral, Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick, however his main supporter from 1422 was Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester.

In 1423 John was made prior of Hatfield Broad Oak, Essex but soon resigned the office to concentrate on his travels and writing. He was a prolific writer of poems, allegories, fables and romances, yet his most famous works were his longer and more moralistic Troy Book, Siege of Thebes and The Fall of Princes. The Troy Book was a translation of the Latin prose narrative by Guido delle Colonne, Historia destructionis Troiae.

Lydgate was also believed to have written London Lickpenny, a well-known satirical work; however, his authorship of this piece has been heavily discredited. He also translated the poems of Guillaume de Deguileville into English. In his later years he lived and probably died at the monastery of Bury St. Edmunds.

Reviews

[Zeta Syanthis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty cool, though I mostly had to give up on the original poem and read the story itself.

[Robert Nield]

Easy language for Middle English - much more negotiable than the Gawain Poet, even without referring to the quality facing translation - profound influence on the ideas even of modern Scottish nationalism, and particularly the final book with a Scottish noble crusading in Islamic Spain wearing the dead king of Scotland's innards around his neck illustrates how surprisingly connected the medieval world could be. My copy seems to be missing the last 20 lines or so but maybe that's an editorial thing I'm not understanding.

That said, it's very long and I feel I could've read books 1, 5, 13-14 and 20 and got a similar amount out of it. Barbour is very repetitive, operates largely episodically and doesn't seem to have a bigger structure, or any qualms around hypocrisy or historical omission. Doubtless of great interest to Bannockburn fanatics.

[vada sinclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anotha one!

For my dissertation, but actually enjoyed reading it cover to cover seven times to make sure I didn't miss anything I promise. I am also now significantly better at reading medieval Scots, and it makes me feel like I'm going insane.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books 1 through 4 and book 10 only (so far)

[Ray Melville]

Abandoned

[Wioletta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the story itself:

Intersting take on how medieval literature such as this one connects to further ”war writing” that are closer to the present

(Read story for War Writing summer course)

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very culturally important book as stated in the book description. My motivation for reading this magnificent book was its history, generally and specifically and that an ancestor of mine was Chief Armourer to Robert the Bruce, later, after he won the war, King Robert the Bruce.

Lots of details and certainly a historians and genealogists delight. I would recommend this interest in the times also this book.

[Ron Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best read aloud!