1917 Nice RIVIERE Binding - MEDIEVAL HISTORY of Aucassin and Nicolete. Knighthood and Chivalry.

 

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Author : Michael West, translator.
Title : Aucassin and Nicolete, Done from the Old French by Michael West.
Language : Text in English.
Publisher : London: George G. Harrap & Co., no date (circa 1917).
Size : 5 " X 3.5 ".
Pages : 119 pages.
Binding : Attractive and very good, near fine full red morocco binding with significant gilt tooling to spine and boards by RIVIERE & Son (signed on bottom of the back of the first endpaper) (hinges fine) under a protective mylar cover.
Content : Very good, near fine, content (bright, clean and tight - as shown).
Illustrations : Including a nice frontis and some full page illustrations.

The book : Beautifully bound edition of Aucassin et Nicolette (12th or 13th century) the anonymous medieval French fictional story. It is the unique example of a chantefable, literally, a "sung story", a combination of prose and verse (similar to a prosimetrum). The story recounts the tale of Aucassin, son of Count Garin of Beaucaire, who so loved Nicolette, a Saracen maiden, who had been sold to the Viscount of Beaucaire, baptized and adopted by him, that he had forsaken knighthood and chivalry and even refused to defend his father's territories from enemies. Accordingly, his father ordered the Viscount to send Nicolette away, but instead the Viscount locked her in a tower of his palace. Aucassin is imprisoned by his father to prevent him from going after his beloved Nicolette. But Nicolette escapes, hears Aucassin lamenting in his cell, and comforts him with sweet words. She flees to the forest outside the gates, and there, in order to test Aucassin's fidelity, builds a rustic home to await his arrival. When he is released from prison Aucassin hears from shepherd lads of Nicolette's hiding-place, and seeks her bower. The lovers, united, resolve to leave the country...