Mediaeval Tales

Step into the world of medieval imagination with a lively collection that gathers four distinct strands of early storytelling. The first section revives a 12th‑century chronicle of Charlemagne and his knight Roland, presented in a readable translation that captures the blend of sacred duty and heroic adventure that inspired later epics. Next, vibrant Spanish ballads—most famously the deeds of the Cid—are rendered into English verse, offering a glimpse of the troubadour tradition that once echoed through medieval courts and battlefields.

The anthology then turns to a selection of moralised tales from the medieval “Gesta Romanorum,” where everyday characters confront timeless dilemmas through allegory and wit. Finally, it includes the earliest known prose version of the Faust legend, the very story that would later fuel dramatic retellings. Together, these pieces illuminate the rich tapestry of medieval romance, faith, and folklore, inviting listeners to hear the voices that shaped Western narrative long before the modern novel was born.