1902 First Housman Edition - MEDIEVAL HISTORY of Aucassin & Nicolette. Knighthood and Chivalry.
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Author: HOUSMAN, Laurence; HOUSMAN, Clemence (engravings on the wood from drawings by Paul Woodroffe).
Title: Of Aucassin and Nicolette: A translation in prose and verse from the old French together with Amabel and Amoris. Given for the first time by Laurence Housman.
Language: Text in English.
Publisher: London, John Murray, no date (circa 1902). First Housman Edition.
Size: 7.5 " X 5 ".
Pages: 103 pages.
Binding: Attractive and very good, near fine, full vellum binding, finely bound (hinges fine, overall slightly scuffed as shown) under a protective mylar cover. Upper edge gilt.
Content: Very good, near fine content (bright, tight, and clean - as shown).
Illustrations: Complete with the beautiful frontispiece and the 3 full-page engravings on the wood by Clemence Housman from the drawings by Paul Woodroffe.
The book: Attractive and very nice first Housman 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...
The translator: Laurence Housman (18 July 1865 – 20 February 1959) was an English playwright, writer and illustrator during the Victorian era. He studied art in London. He was a younger brother of the poet A. E. Housman.