Hi Scott, for Froissart, I like the Penguin edition, translated by Geoffrey Brereton. And for Gerald of Wales, the Penguin edition containing both Journey through Wales and Description of Wales, translated by Lewis Thorpe.
For the last three texts, all of which are written in Middle English, it depends on if you'd like to try reading them in the original Middle English or if you prefer a modernized English version. The following are my recommendations:
Pearl:
For a version that contains the original language, along with glossary and footnotes: "The Poems of the Pearl Manuscript: Pearl, Cleanness, Patience, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" edited by Malcolm Andrew and Ronald Waldron. This is what I used to study the poem in my PhD.
For a modernized version, Tolkien's translation is quite lovely, though not the most literal. There's also a prose translation by Malcolm Andrew and Ronald Waldron that is both accessible and literal.
The Canterbury Tales:
The Riverside Chaucer is the edition used by most scholars and is great if you want to approach the text like an academic and read it in the original Middle English, but it is not the best for a first-time reader.
For a modern translation, the Oxford UP's edition translated by David Wright is very good
Le Morte Darthur:
Malory's language is almost Early Modern, so you'll find most versions very readable (at least, if you find Shakespeare to be readable). The main consideration with editions of Le Morte Darthur is which original text they are based on: the older Winchester manuscript or the later Caxton printed copy. The Caxton edition was the only one we knew about until the early 20th century, and it tends to be the basis for popular editions. For the Morte, I like the two volume Penguin edition for a good balance of readability and footnotes.
Thanks Andrew! This is very helpful. I never know what editions to get and a few I’ve purchased without guidance were dreadful (for me) so now I ask.
Very detailed and thorough post. Bookmarked! I stumbled upon your page and love the content. This post in particular is awesome! I love medieval literature! I recently had a chance to visit an exhibit called Symbols and Signs: Decoding Medieval Manuscripts, where I stepped into that world and explored firsthand the mysterious symbols and hidden messages woven into these ancient texts. It was an amazing experience!
Thank you so much, Yevgeniy! Medieval manuscripts are absolutely fascinating. So many of them are digitized these days, which is very useful, but actually seeing them in person is a whole other experience.
Andrew, do you recommend any particular editions or translations?
Hi Scott, for Froissart, I like the Penguin edition, translated by Geoffrey Brereton. And for Gerald of Wales, the Penguin edition containing both Journey through Wales and Description of Wales, translated by Lewis Thorpe.
For the last three texts, all of which are written in Middle English, it depends on if you'd like to try reading them in the original Middle English or if you prefer a modernized English version. The following are my recommendations:
Pearl:
For a version that contains the original language, along with glossary and footnotes: "The Poems of the Pearl Manuscript: Pearl, Cleanness, Patience, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" edited by Malcolm Andrew and Ronald Waldron. This is what I used to study the poem in my PhD.
For a modernized version, Tolkien's translation is quite lovely, though not the most literal. There's also a prose translation by Malcolm Andrew and Ronald Waldron that is both accessible and literal.
The Canterbury Tales:
The Riverside Chaucer is the edition used by most scholars and is great if you want to approach the text like an academic and read it in the original Middle English, but it is not the best for a first-time reader.
For a modern translation, the Oxford UP's edition translated by David Wright is very good
Le Morte Darthur:
Malory's language is almost Early Modern, so you'll find most versions very readable (at least, if you find Shakespeare to be readable). The main consideration with editions of Le Morte Darthur is which original text they are based on: the older Winchester manuscript or the later Caxton printed copy. The Caxton edition was the only one we knew about until the early 20th century, and it tends to be the basis for popular editions. For the Morte, I like the two volume Penguin edition for a good balance of readability and footnotes.
Thanks Andrew! This is very helpful. I never know what editions to get and a few I’ve purchased without guidance were dreadful (for me) so now I ask.
Very detailed and thorough post. Bookmarked! I stumbled upon your page and love the content. This post in particular is awesome! I love medieval literature! I recently had a chance to visit an exhibit called Symbols and Signs: Decoding Medieval Manuscripts, where I stepped into that world and explored firsthand the mysterious symbols and hidden messages woven into these ancient texts. It was an amazing experience!
Thank you so much, Yevgeniy! Medieval manuscripts are absolutely fascinating. So many of them are digitized these days, which is very useful, but actually seeing them in person is a whole other experience.
Agreed! It's hard to think of a more iconic opening than this.