The Grail legend still grips us because it’s not just story but symbol. A symbol, in its deepest sense, gathers the visible and invisible into one reality. That’s why Arthurian legend feels timeless rather than specifically medieval.
Great list. Ivanhoe is on my top five list of favorite all time books. If I could humbly add a couple more suggestions I would add Charles Reades' The Cloister and the Hearth, and Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael series of books, which total up to 21 different novels. Both these works are set in the middle ages and are incredible reads.
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett and The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley definitely belong in this list, especially for the more modern takes in these ancient stories
Walter Scott is one of my top authors and Ivanhoe one of my favourite books! I have Malory on my shelf but haven't read it for years - I shall dust it off and read it again. I love seeing your recommendations and reasons for them.
Awesome list! THANKS. I also agree with @workingrich about "A World Lit only by Fire by William Manchester" It's a short read and I (IMO) an key addition to the lit about that world.
I did read the five of them! 'Orlando Furioso' was for my Italian language exam. Wow! Time to re-re-re-read all of them. This harsh winter weather is the perfect excuse. And I do mean books, not e-books. I so love passing the pages forth and back while lying in bed, the book propped on my chest.
Ok moving some of these to closer to the top of my list. Ordered others. But with Troyes and Furioso running into the age old problem of which translation - anyone have any recommendations? Also might want to look around Half Price Books and see if there are any old illustrated ones
A World Lit only by Fire by William Manchester gives a good picture of that world.
Oh, this one is in my "To be read" pile - will get on it!
I believe they made a movie about “The Name of the Rose”, with Sean Connery.
Familiar with all except Orlando Furioso. Will need to take a look at it. Thank you for this compilation.
The Grail legend still grips us because it’s not just story but symbol. A symbol, in its deepest sense, gathers the visible and invisible into one reality. That’s why Arthurian legend feels timeless rather than specifically medieval.
Great list. Ivanhoe is on my top five list of favorite all time books. If I could humbly add a couple more suggestions I would add Charles Reades' The Cloister and the Hearth, and Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael series of books, which total up to 21 different novels. Both these works are set in the middle ages and are incredible reads.
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett and The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley definitely belong in this list, especially for the more modern takes in these ancient stories
Was about to comment Pillars of the Earth!
Ooh - I'd add Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset.
Walter Scott is one of my top authors and Ivanhoe one of my favourite books! I have Malory on my shelf but haven't read it for years - I shall dust it off and read it again. I love seeing your recommendations and reasons for them.
List is lowkey lacking if you don’t have Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. Might be my favorite book I’ve ever read though so I’m biased
Awesome list! THANKS. I also agree with @workingrich about "A World Lit only by Fire by William Manchester" It's a short read and I (IMO) an key addition to the lit about that world.
Barbara Tuchman’s “A Distant Mirror “ remains one of my favorite books, probably 45 years after I first read it.
I did read the five of them! 'Orlando Furioso' was for my Italian language exam. Wow! Time to re-re-re-read all of them. This harsh winter weather is the perfect excuse. And I do mean books, not e-books. I so love passing the pages forth and back while lying in bed, the book propped on my chest.
Ok moving some of these to closer to the top of my list. Ordered others. But with Troyes and Furioso running into the age old problem of which translation - anyone have any recommendations? Also might want to look around Half Price Books and see if there are any old illustrated ones
Parzival by Wolfram von Eschenbach, also written during the actual medieval period, is criminally missing from this list.
No 'The Corner That Held Them' by Sylvia Townsend Warner?
is the metamorphoses good? we have to read it for my greek and roman mythology class. also anyone ever read the homeric hymns?