Review by Choice Review
Modern interpretation of medieval romances, especially those of Jean Renart, can be highly complex. This volume consists of seven essays on various aspects of Renart's three known romances. Though scholars know relatively little about him, Renart is generally recognized as the first to weave lyric poems into the body and story of romance. Three of these essays treat the use of lyrics in the body of a romance; one concerns the significance of artistic embroidery in the work; and one explores medieval music as exemplified by Renart's romances. Durling also includes one essay on the historical figures and events that appear in the Romance of Guillaume de Dole and one that clarifies the subtleties and problems of translating a work such as this. Best read alongside the romance itself, these essays are an excellent resource for understanding both Jean Renart and early-13th-century French romance. Each essay is accompanied by helpful, complete notes; an excellent selective bibliography and index conclude the volume. Paper, typography, and binding are excellent, and the work is essentially error-free. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. J. E. Parker Jr.; Wake Forest University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
