Reviews for The Carmen de Hastingae proelio of Guy, Bishop of Amiens

The average rating for The Carmen de Hastingae proelio of Guy, Bishop of Amiens based on 2 reviews is 5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2017-03-22 00:00:00 Ryan Verschoore Dr. David Townsend has provided the definitive English poetry translation of Walter of Chatillon's Alexandreis, and in doing so he has produced a work which exemplifies the artistic talent of both its author and its translator. This edition perfectly captures the grandeur, pathos, and nuance of its Latin roots and shows that while difficult, an excellent Anglophonic version of a Latin epic can be achieved. Without a doubt the real value of The Alexandreis lies in its subtly. Like The Aeneid, it is an original work steeped in a massive tradition, but Walter works within the confines of the genre to create a piece which at once revels in its cultural milieu while leaving its own distinctive mark. The Alexandreis celebrates the glories of martial valor and fame while lamenting their cost in human suffering and ultimate futility. Townsend brings these values to the forefront, employing English poetics with a versatility which mirrors the original Latin. Townsend is especially to be commended for his efforts to stray somewhat from direct translation in order to inject references from the English canon into his translation, allowing audiences less familiar with the Classic canon to better approximate the sense of place and context implicit within the Latin original. While a solid grasp of the historical Alexander would certainly be a useful boon, it is not necessary for enjoying The Alexandreis as Townsend has provided handy and extensive end notes for reference. One may wish that he had opted for footnotes for ease of use, but this minor quibble is the only fault to be found in this incredible work. I would recommend Dr. David Townsend's The Alexandreis to fans of Classical epics like The Iliad or The Aeneid who would be interested in sampling the unique flavors imparted to the genre by medieval culture. Fans of Germanic epics may also enjoy it as a more scholastic and pious treatment of the epics of the Middle Ages.

Review # 2 was written on 2019-07-26 00:00:00 Ed Koch As a summary of Homer's great epic, this Cliffs Notes volume is adequate. In fact, when I teach The Odyssey to my ninth graders this year, I will probably share with them the family tree diagram and a few summaries for the chapter we won't be covering in class. But as a "critical analysis" -- which is what the second half of this book calls itself -- it is quite weak. Most versions of the poem come with introductory material (Who wouldn't want to be called upon to introduce The Odyssey?); and those notes are bound to be more thorough and helpful than these are.