Encyclopedia of Medieval Literature

This reference is a comprehensive guide to literature written 500 to 1500 A.D. a period that gave rise to some of the world''s most enduring and influential works such as Dante''s Commedia Geoffrey Chaucer''s The Canterbury Tales and a large body of Arthurian lore and legend. While its emphasis is upon medieval English texts and society this reference also covers Islamic Hispanic Celtic Mongolian Germanic Italian and Russian literature and Middle Age culture.Longer entries provide thorough coverage of major English authors such as Chaucer and Sir Thomas Malory and of genre entries such as drama lyric ballad debate saga chronicle and hagiography. Shorter entries examine particular literary works; significant kings artists explorers and religious leaders; important themes such as courtly love and chivalry; and major historical events such as the Crusades. Each entry concludes with a brief biography. The volume closes with a list of the most valuable general works for further reading.