Tirant lo Blanch; a study of its authorship, principal sources and historical setting

The narrator guides listeners through a meticulous investigation of a celebrated medieval Catalan chivalric romance, uncovering the tangled questions of who penned it, which earlier works shaped it, and how its world reflects the politics and culture of its age. Beginning with the scholar’s own curiosity sparked by a rare facsimile, the study unfolds as a thoughtful dialogue with libraries, previous scholarship, and a network of supportive colleagues, all stitched together to form a clear picture of the text’s origins.

Combining close textual analysis with historical detail, the work maps the narrative’s sources—from Byzantine chronicles to contemporary courtly literature—while situating the story within the turbulent milieu of 15th‑century Mediterranean power struggles. Listeners will appreciate the careful balance of literary criticism and contextual insight, gaining a richer understanding of why this romance has lingered in the literary imagination for centuries. The study remains a model of scholarly rigor presented in an accessible, engaging voice.