Altmann, Barbara K., ed., trans.; Palmer, R. Barton, ed., trans., An Anthology of Medieval Love Debate Poetry (Gainesville, FL: University Press of Florida, 2006).

Text name(s): Le jugement dou roy de Behaingne; The Judgment of the King of Bohemia; Le Jugement dou roy de Navarre; The Judgment of the King of Navarre; The Legend of Good Women; Le Debat de deux amans; The Debate of Two Lovers; Le Livre des quatre dames; The Book of the Four Ladies

Number of pages of primary source text: 358

Medieval Author(s): Chartier, Alain Chaucer, Geoffrey Christine de Pizan

Dates: 0 - 0

Archival Reference:

Original Language(s): English - Middle English; French - Old French;

Translation: English translation.

Translation Comments:

Geopolitical Region(s): England; France;

County/Region:

Apparatus: Index Bibliography Introduction

Comments:

The love debate, a literary genre which explores the nature of love and the relations of men and women in the frame of an argument, grew and spread during the later Middle Ages through the works of writers such as Geoffrey Chaucer and Christine de Pizan. Often taking the form of an exchange between multiple (sometimes two, sometimes more) voices, presided over by a narrator figure, the genre This volume contains five examples of the genre, appearing in modern English translation only. The translations are thoroughly footnoted, and the bibliography is separated by author.

Introduction Summary:

The editors’ brief (11 pp) general introduction discusses the development and spread of the love debate genre, noting it grew our of 12th and 13th century “jugements d’amour” literature, which often featured debates centering around a knight and a cleric, as well as the courtly romance genre. Additionally, each piece is preceded by its own brief introduction which includes biographical information on the author, information on the works date and composition, and a summary of major points.

Cataloger: MCB