ARTHURIAN ROMANCE

Arthurian romance: translation

Much medieval literature centres on a British king, Arthur. Although mentioned in a 9c chronicle, Arthur's role was perhaps founded in literature in the Historia Regum Britanniae (History of the Kings of Britain) by Geoffrey of Monmouth. A French translation by the Jersey poet, Wace (c.1100-75), added the story of the Round Table, after which the court of Arthur became the focus of chivalric tales of courtly romance in England and the continent. One of the last medieval contributions to the literature was Malory's Morte d'Arthur, which was being prepared for printing by Caxton at the time of the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.