Tristan and Iseult
'Tristan and Iseult' Summary
Tristan and Iseult by Joseph Bedier is a retelling of an ancient legend which has been popular for nearly eight hundred years! The origins of the story are lost in the mists of time, but scholars reckon that it is based on a Persian epic poem called Vis O Ramin, composed by the Persian poet Asad Gorgani in the 11th century. This itself was based on oral traditions which existed since the first century. Whatever the origin, the poignant story of doomed lovers captured the imagination of writers, musicians, playwrights, poets and artists all over the world and gave rise to wonderful works of literature and art.
Joseph Bedier was a classical scholar and professor of Medieval Literature at the University de Faubourg, Switzerland. Due to his concerted efforts, interest was revived in ancient French texts and legends. Tristan and Iseult was published in 1909 and it firmly established his great reputation as a writer and a scholar. It was translated into English by Hilaire Belloc and Paul Rosenfeld. Other translations included Cornish, German, Italian and many other languages.
Tristan and Iseult tells the story of a Cornish knight, Tristan, who travels to Ireland to bring back the lovely princess Iseult for his uncle Mark to marry. En route, the two young people fall in love. Some legends have it that the lovers mistakenly ingested a love potion that made them fall eternally and irrevocably in love. When they reach their destination, Iseult marries King Mark but continues her affair. When the secret is discovered, the lovers are condemned for adultery. They are sentenced to death, but conspire to escape. There are various versions of the end of this story – Some end in tragedy with both dying, while others have them escaping, begging the king for forgiveness and living happily ever after. Whatever the outcome, the story has had an indelible impact on Western romantic and tragic traditions. It was also incorporated into Arthurian legends.
Widely adapted on stage, screen and television, Tristan and Iseult is a timeless classic which would be a great addition to your bookshelf.
Book Details
Author
Joseph Bédier
France
Joseph Bedier was a French writer and scholar and historian of medieval France. Bédier was born in Paris , France to Adolphe Bédier, a lawyer of Breton origin, and spent his childhood i...
More on Joseph BédierDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books
Family Happiness by Leo Tolstoy
The 17 year old Marya falls in love with the much older Sergyei Mikhailitch, an old family friend, and the two are married. They share an initially bl...
Aaron's Rod by D. H. Lawrence
In "Aaron's Rod" by D.H. Lawrence, the pulsating beat of life echoes through the pages, beckoning readers into a world of passion, rebellion, and self...
A Room With a View by Edward M. Forster
A Room with a View is a 1908 novel by English writer E. M. Forster, about a young woman in the restrained culture of Edwardian era England. Set in Ita...
Lost Illusions: Two Poets by Honoré de Balzac
In the captivating world of Honoré de Balzac's Lost Illusions: Two Poets, we are introduced to the contrasting lives of two aspiring poets, Lucien Cha...
The Big Blue Soldier by Grace Livingston Hill
This is a captivating novel written by Grace Livingston Hill, a renowned author known for her inspiring and heartwarming stories. This book was writte...
Poor Miss Finch by Wilkie Collins
Poor Miss Finch is a novel about a young blind woman who temporarily regains her sight while finding herself in a romantic triangle with two brothers.
Pansies for Thoughts by Pansy (Isabella Macdonald Alden)
What if your thoughts could come to life? Pansies for Thoughts, a collection of short stories by Pansy, explores the power of thought and the transfo...
The Two Noble Kinsmen by William Shakespeare
The Two Noble Kinsmen is a Jacobean tragicomedy and attributed jointly to John Fletcher and William Shakespeare. Its plot derives from "The Knight's T...
Cock-House at Fellsgarth by Talbot Baines Reed
Can a group of boys from the worst house in school turn things around and become the best? Cock-House at Fellsgarth by Talbot Baines Reed is a classi...
One Day's Courtship and The Heralds of Fame by Robert Barr
In One Day's Courtship, British artist John Trenton visits Quebec and tries to slip in a quick canoe trip on his last day in town to photograph the sc...
Reviews for Tristan and Iseult
No reviews posted or approved, yet...