The essays in this volume offer a general overview and a number of detailed examinations of Arthur's fortunes, in two senses. First is the role of Fortune itself, often personified and consistently instrumental, in accounts of Arthur's court and reign. More generally the articles trace the trajectory of the Arthurian legend - its birth, rise and decline - through the middle ages. The final essay follows the continued turning of Fortune's wheel, emphasizing the modern revival and flourishing of the legend. The authors, all distinguished Arthurian scholars, illustrate their arguments through studies of early Latin and Welsh sources, chronicles, romances [in English, French, German, Italian, Latin and Welsh], manuscript illustration and modern literary texts.
Contributors: CHRISTOPHER A. SNYDER, SIN ECHARD, EDWARD DONALD KENNEDY, W.R.J. BARRON, DENNIS H. GREEN, NORRIS LACY, CERIDWEN LLOYD-MORGAN, JOAN TASKER GRIMBERT, ALISON STONES, NEIL THOMAS, JANE H.M. TAYLOR, CAROLINE D. ECKHARDT AND ALAN C LUPACK.
Reviews
Enlarges the champ de travail of matters Arthurian for French specialists and is an excellent addition to the Arthurian Studies series. THE FRENCH REVIEWA varied collection, but one which responds to the dual perspective of the volume's title, and which yields many rewarding insights. FRENCH STUDIES
The contributors are major scholars who write well and whose essays offer significant contributions. ARTHURIANA