The Three Days' Tournament: A Study in Romance and Folk-Lore

A scholarly journey into one of the most celebrated episodes of the Arthurian cycle, this study examines the Three Days’ Tournament as both a romance and a piece of ancient folk‑lore. Framed as an appendix to earlier work on Sir Lancelot, it invites listeners to trace the tale’s evolution from oral tradition to medieval manuscript, revealing the layers of myth that have shaped its enduring appeal.

The author challenges conventional criticism by arguing that the core of these legends rests on deeply Celtic foundations rather than later French embellishments. Through careful comparison of surviving texts, the work suggests that many of the stories already existed in a coherent, romantic form long before they were formally written down. Listeners will gain a nuanced perspective on the methodological hurdles of Arthurian scholarship and the rich cultural currents that continue to inform the legend’s timeless resonance.