Medieval animal epics dealing with Reynard the Fox comprise an international body of literature which dates from approximately 1150 to 1500. These works are therefore of historical importance, but many of them also have great literary value. I have written the present book as an introduction to the major Reynard poems, which form a definite progression. The Latin "Ysengrimus" influenced many parts of the French "Roman de Renart" [Romance of Reynard], out of which the Dutch "Van den Vos Reynaerde" [Of Reynard the Fox] developed. With further help from the "Roman de Renart", "Van den Vos Reynaerde" was expanded into the Dutch "Reinaerts Historie" [Reynard’s History], which was reworked in Low German as "Reynke de Vos" [Reynard the Fox].
My book presumes no prior knowledge of medieval beast epics, being descriptive as well as analytical, but it also offers new interpretations. Rather than a summary of previous research, it is a statement of my own opinions, as grounded in previous research.
Author(s): Thomas W. Best
Series: Twayne’s World Authors Series, 673
Publisher: Twayne Publishers
Year: 1983
Language: English
Pages: X+178
City: Boston
About the Author
Preface
Chronology
Chapter One. Ysengrimus 1
Chapter Two. Early Branches of the Roman de Renart 33
Chapter Three. Van den Vos Reynaerde 70
Chapter Four. Reinaerts Historie 104
Chapter Five. The Incunabular Fox 132
Chapter Six. Conclusion 154
Notes and References 155
Selected Bibliography 171
Index 173
