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Early Fiction in England: From Geoffrey of Monmouth to Chaucer (Penguin Classics)

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A brilliant new anthology that shows how fiction was reinvented in the twelfth century after an absence of hundreds of years. Essential for all students of medieval literature, Early Fiction in England includes extracts by Geoffrey of Monmouth, Wace, Marie de France, Chaucer and many others, in new translations and with illuminating introductions.

Before the twelfth century, fiction had completely disappeared in Europe. In this important and provocative book, Laura Ashe shows how English writers brought it back, composing new tales about King Arthur, his knights and other heroes and heroines in Latin, French and English. Why did fiction disappear, and why did it come to life again to establish itself the dominant form of literature ever since? And what do we even mean by the term 'fiction'? Gathering extracts from the most important texts of the period by Wace, Marie de France, Chaucer and others, this volume offers an absorbing and surprising introduction to the earliest fiction in England.

The anthology includes a general introduction by Laura Ashe, introductions to each extract, explanatory notes and other useful editorial materials. All French and Latin texts have been newly translated, while Middle English texts include helpful glosses.

Laura Ashe is a University Lecturer in English and Fellow of Worcester College, Oxford. Her first book Fiction and History in England, 1066-1200 (Cambridge University Press, 2007) has been followed by numerous articles and edited collections; she is now writing the new Oxford English Literary History vol. 1: 1000-1350 (Oxford University Press).

About the Author

Laura Ashe is Associate Professor of English and a Fellow of Worcester College, Oxford. Her books include Fiction and History in England, 1066-1200 and the Oxford English Literary History, vol. 1: 1000-1350. Conquest and Transformation. She has also edited Early Fiction in England: From Geoffrey of Monmouth to Chaucer for Penguin Classics. The extraordinary flowering of English literature in the reign of Richard II features in much of her work.

Review:

4.4 out of 5

88.00% of customers are satisfied

5.0 out of 5 stars A Superb Reader

C. · 8 November 2019

The collection of literature itself is excellent, but this book is worth reading for its introduction alone. It places early fiction in context and reflects on the value of fiction (as distinct from literature) itself - extremely interesting! I had assumed that fiction as a form of literature existed in all civilizations - this is simply not true and, as the author reveals, fiction tells us a lot about past societies and indeed ourselves.

4.0 out of 5 stars Long before Austen

P.S. · 4 January 2016

An outstanding job. I'm not certain that I'd have chosen the same selections, but these are good ones and the prefatory remarks are excellent.

5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars

W. · 1 October 2017

An excellent book, a perfect introduction to a period which can be quite daunting for the student. Highly recommended

5.0 out of 5 stars Questioning virtue and love in 12th century England

G.C. · 5 November 2015

This is a fascinating collection of early English fiction. The standard story content is of the knight of great valour engaged in brave adventure for the love of a lady, always declared to be of great beauty. Laura Ashe explains the cultural background well, particularly in her introduction to the story of ‘Gui of Warwick’ by an unknown author (pages 261-267). Knights had to prove themselves to gain marriage to a lady heiress, and so secure estate and lineage. It was all very Darwinian. There is of course a glaring inconsistency between physical ‘valour’ which requires violence and brutality, and the tenderness of love which the standard story line claims it deserves and engenders.Whilst some of this literary collection exemplifies this model uncritically, other contributions level heavy criticism. Marie de France mocks the standard story line most powerfully in her ‘Lais’. Gui of Warwick ultimately denounces his extravagant and exaggerated success in the standard paradigm, and becomes a religious hermit. Love defined as male prowess meeting female beauty and inheritance is challenged by a more substantial divine love. Chaucer makes the same point in ‘Troilus and Criseyde’ where love of Christ is greater than unreliable self-centred human romantic love. Meanwhile ‘Amis and Amilun’, again by an unknown author, mocks the Christ tale by having Amis casually behead his children to apply their blood to heal Amilun’s leprosy, as God is supposed to have sacrificed his son whose blood is claimed to redeem humanity.This is a powerful mix. Laura Ashe claims that it is the start of fiction focussing on ‘interiority’. Fiction is also about ‘story’ per se, but these stories do deeply examine the perceived nature of love.

Three Stars

T.M. · 13 December 2017

Not as interesting as I thought it would be

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Early Fiction in England: From Geoffrey of Monmouth to Chaucer (Penguin Classics)

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