Layamon's Brut: The Poem and its Sources

by Layamon, Françoise H.M. le Saux (Editor)

A comprehensive and objective study of Layamon's sources is long overdue. As a first step Franoise le Saux investigates the English poet's handling of his main source, Wace's Roman de Brut, to determine what principles guided the composition of the English Brut. These established, she is able to distinguish between different sorts of variation from the Roman, thereby providing norms against which to gauge the probability of further, secondary sources. Additional sources are then identified, in the various fields suggested by the poem: historical; literary; and religious writings (or tales) in Welsh, English, Latin and French and perhaps even Scandinavian.

252 pages, Hardcover

First published October 12, 1989

About the author

floruit 13th century

Layamon, English poet, circa 1205 wrote The Brut , the first account of knights of Arthur, king.

Layamon, occasionally notable author of the 12th century and the early 13th century, worked the language to discuss the legends of the Round Table.

Layamon describes a priest, lived at Areley Kings in Worcestershire. He provided numerous later inspiration for Sir Thomas Malory and Jorge Luis Borges and affected medieval history.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layamon

Reviews

[Neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant study of Layamon's use of source material. The author looks into how Layamon used Wace's Brut and how at points he expands and omits sections of the narrative. Includes chapters on how he used Geoffrey of Monmouth, French and Welsh sources. The book also delves into the commonly asked questions about Layamon, was Layamon a priest? How English was Layamon?