Aucassin and Nicolette : translated from the Old French

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bourdillon, Francis William, 1852-1921

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"Aucassin and Nicolette" by Francis William Bourdillon is a lyrical narrative composed in the close of the 12th century, reflecting a medieval romance akin to both an epic poem and a novel. The story presents a timeless theme of love, focusing on the passionate yet thwarted romance between Aucassin, a young nobleman, and Nicolette, a captive lady of noble birth, exploring issues of societal class, identity, and personal desire against a backdrop of familial and political conflict. The narrative glorifies the poignant emotional struggles of Aucassin, who defies his family's wishes to pursue a bright future with Nicolette, despite her status as a slave-girl. Following their initial separation-instigated by Aucassin's father, who hopes to prevent his son from pursuing this forbidden love-the lovers endure numerous trials, including imprisonment, warfare, and personal sacrifice. The story unfolds through a tapestry of verses that illuminate their unwavering devotion, culminating in a tale of perseverance as they overcome their circumstances, ultimately reuniting against overwhelming odds in a journey filled with nostalgia and hope. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Transcribed from the 1908 Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co. edition by David Price

Notes:

Reading ease score: 87.3 (6th grade). Easy to read.

Release date is 2007-10-28