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An Introduction to the Chansons de Geste
by Catherine M. Jones
Delve into the stories and rhythms of the Old French chansons de geste, or “songs of heroic deeds”—one of the most important traditions of the French Middle Ages. These tremendously popular songs were based on French history but often embellished in fantastical ways and written to be performed by minstrels. They are full of incantatory beauty yet also contain shocking celebrations of violence and intolerance. In this book, discover the famous Song of Roland and other fascinating epics that continue to move, amuse, and provoke thought today.