The knightly tale of Golagros and Gawane
By: edited by Ralph Hanna, from materials collected by W.R.J. Barron.
Contributors: Hanna, Ralph.; Barron, W. R. J.
Series: The Scottish Text Society -- 5th ser., no. 7
Publisher: Scottish Text Society
Published: 2008
Place of publication: Woodbridge, Suffolk; Rochester, NY
Language: eng
Number of pages: 145
ISBN-13: 9781897976296
Subjects: Arthurian romances; Gawain (Legendary character) -- Poetry; Scottish poetry -- To 1700; English poetry -- Scottish authors
Genres: Poetry
Work titles: Golagros and Gawane.
Description: "The Knightly Tale of Golagros and Gawane, the finest of all Older Scots romances, was written during the last quarter of the fifteenth century. It was one of the earliest works published by Scotland's first printers, Chepman and Myllar, on 8 April 1508. It uses the thirteen-line alliterative multi-rhymed stanza to vivid effect. Its greatest sophistication, however, lies in its thematic engagement with matters of sovereignty and chivalry, in its persistent interest in negotiated exchanges rather than outright warfare, and in its moving depictions of the limitations of an aristocratic ethos fundamentally dedicated to destructive violence. The introduction and notes to this new edition of the poem show how the Golagros poet works from two Arthurian adventures he derived from the prose continuations to Chretien de Troyes' Perceval, following a Scottish tradition of rehandling prose material into verse. It also reveals, however, the poem's extensive knowledge of an earlier romance likely composed on the borders of north-western England, The Awntyrs of Arthur at the Tarn Wadling, and thus situates Golagros against traditions both French and English." "The text is re-edited from the sole witness, the Chepman and Myllar print, and the introduction also supplies valuable new commentary on early print culture in Scotland. Extensive notes and a full concordance-glossary are also supplied. This is likely to become the standard edition of the poem."--Jacket.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 141-145).