Myths and Legends of the Middle Ages: Their Origin and Influence On Literature and Art

Between the fall of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance, the classic culture of Greece and Rome, with its gods and legends, was forgotten; and from among the many races and tribes that had spread over Western Europe following the collapse of the Empire there emerged new legends, indigenous to the newcomers. The collection in this book brings together the most famous of the European stories, some with roots dating back to pagan times, other extolling the virtues of more recent heroes--Christian paladins, kings, and emperors. Originally published in 1896, book presents the legends of Beowulf, Gudrun, Reynard the Fox, The Nibelungenlied, Charlemagne, Merlin, The Round Table, The Cid, Titurel, the Holy Grail, and others. This anthology introduced many young people in turn of the century America to these tales.