Four Middle English Romances: Sir Isumbras, Octavian, Sir Eglamour of Artois, Sir Tryamour

by Harriet Hudson (Editor), Various

Sir Isumbras, Octavian, Sir Eglamour of Artois, and Sir Tryamour are important works in a major literary development of the fourteenth the flourishing of Middle English popular romance. These four narratives were among the most popular; all survive in multiple manuscripts and continued to circulate in prints through the sixteenth century. All were composed in the northeast Midlands in the fifty years between 1325 and 1375, and they appear together in several manuscripts. The tale the romances tell-of exiled queens, orphaned children, and penitent fathers-was one of the most prevalent medieval stories. Sometimes called the Constance/Eustace legend (after two well-known pious versions), its influence can be seen in numerous romances.

Genres: Medieval

218 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1996

About the author

A pseudonym used by Amy Myers

Reviews

[Austin Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Also teaches very well

[ouijacine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looked at southern Octavian and northern Octavian from this selection

[Ben Hoover · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good selection of understudied Middle English romances. The introductions and notes to each romances are helpful, though the glosses of Middle English words varies in its usefulness. Each story is an example of a "popular" romance (i.e. ones that are not generally regarded as exempla of "high" or "fine" art). Nonetheless, a reader can gloss a great deal of cultural information about the later Middle Ages in Northwestern Europe and how they constructed their narratives.

[Toby Beeny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just read Octavian out of this for class. It was a pretty epic story.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5

[Danielle]

- Have only read Sir Isumbras so far, adding as 'read' for comps organizaton