Aristocratic life in medieval France : the romances of Jean Renart and Gerbert de Montreuil, 1190-1230
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
Aristocratic life in medieval France : the romances of Jean Renart and Gerbert de Montreuil, 1190-1230
Johns Hopkins University Press, 2000
- : hbk
Available at 14 libraries
Note
Bibliography: p. [275]-349
Includes index
Description and Table of Contents
Description
Modern historians have generally approached the study of medieval society through chronicles, charters and other documents composed in Latin by members of the clergy. Although these records may be satisfactory for studying the affairs of ecclesiastics, kings and high barons, the author of this work argues that they are inadequate for assessing the major preoccupations of the aristocracy - living extravagantly, fighting, making love, entertaining, eating and dressing ostentatiously - generally earning the disapproval of the clergy. In this book John Baldwin undertakes a study of the segment of society using the vernacular romances written exclusively for the amusement of aristcratic audiences. Rather than attempting to encompass all of Middle Age Europe, the study selects two writers, Jean Renart and Gerbert de Montreuil, and their four romances. It focuses specifically on Northern France during a precise period - 1190-1230. Since Jean and Gerbert framed their fictional stories with contemporary and realistic features that could be recognized by their audiences, their works provide much detail on aristocratic living.
Employing such literary techniques as "reality effects" and "horizons of expectations", Baldwin aims to discern the historical content in these romance narratives.
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