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Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 Not Only Historical Literature But Actually A Very Good Tale, 2007-11-01
The Song of Roland describes in heroically exaggerated but still inwardly factual terms the invasion of Spain by Charlemagne, and the service of his heroic commander Roland. Composed some twelve-hundred years ago and holding up well for current tastes, The Song of Roland flows along well and hits the emotions with surprising force. Beyond its appeal to Medievalists and lovers of literature, Roland's universality makes it suitable for almost anyone to find something to draw them. Also, Dorothy Sayers' translation from the French contains color and depth simply not present in some other versions of The Song of Roland. This is the one to own.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
The Song of Roland, 2007-10-09
I have yet to read the book but it is one of my professor's favorite books. The book came in great time and in great condition
0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
 Free SF Reader, 2007-09-03
Your average heroic stand type story. Recommended for those that like
the knights, armor, chivalry thing. A knight of the super shining white
variety, a stalwart of his boss in the royalty, makes a
self-sacrificing effort to do what he believes is the right thing.
This, of course, is not good for his bodily integrity.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
another fine classic, 2007-05-13
In "Mont St. Michel and Chartres" Henry James assures us that William the Conquerer listened to the Song of Roland in Mt. St. Michel before departing to conquer England. Besides, a number of operas are based on this story, notably Vivaldi's "Orlando Furioso." So this (along with the Arthur stories) was one of the basic stories of Western culture that I didn't know.
Well, now I do. I can recommend "Song of Roland" to anyone curious. It is what it is famous as: a fascinating look at the feudal chivalry of the Middle Ages, before the popularity of romances. If you are more interested in Renaissance than in Medieval cultures, you should consider Ariosto's "Orlando Furioso," which was also the basis of Vivaldi's opera.
I certainly got my money's worth with this book, but I'm not thrilled with the translator's efforts to reproduce the "feel" of the original in rythm and line-ending assonances; I would have prefered the most literal rendering possible rather than imaginatively warping things this way and that, with the result being a feeble imitation anyway. I'm also not overawed with the introduction. It had a little helpful historical background, but most of it was a retelling of the story and an analysis of the characters. It is probably, I'll admit, a good introduction for students, especially students who might not figure out the characters simply by reading the story. Of course, the thing could've been easier to read if not for the assonance scheme...
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
The Franks Homer, 2004-10-02
An utter epic that deserves to be read by anyone with an intrest in either literature or history.
Although there is controversy over the exact historical accuracy of this classic poem, it is based around the Charlemagne's campaigns against the Muslims in Northern Spain, around the late eighth century.
It reads like a Frankish iliad, real events draped in myth.
The poem has it all: enthralling plot, colourful charcaters, perfect timing.....
A gem!
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