Sagen van Koning Arthur en de Ridders van de Tafelronde

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

23759

Title

Sagen van Koning Arthur en de Ridders van de Tafelronde

Language

nl

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Nelly Montijn-de Fouw presents a curated collection of Arthurian legends, drawing primarily from 12th-century French literature and Welsh traditions. This illustrated volume explores the origins of King Arthur, the Round Table, and iconic knights like Lancelot, Tristan, and Walewein. With scholarly introductions detailing the evolution of these tales across Europe, the book offers a rich, romantic glimpse into medieval chivalry, courtly love, and the enduring mystery of the Arthurian cycle.

Summary up to 500 words

In *Sagen van Koning Arthur en de Ridders van de Tafelronde*, Nelly Montijn-de Fouw presents a comprehensive survey of Arthurian legend, tracing its evolution from historical memory to romantic fantasy. The volume opens by examining Arthur's origins in Welsh chronicles, specifically Nennius's *Historia Brittonum*, where he appears not as a king but as a military leader (*dux bellorum*) who fought twelve battles against the Saxons. Montijn-de Fouw illustrates how the legend expanded to include supernatural elements, such as the magical sword Excalibur and the legendary hound Cabal, whose paw prints in stone could not be removed. The collection features ten key tales that define the cycle's medieval heritage. Central to the narrative is the tale of Erec and Enide, originally by Chrétien de Troyes, which explores the tension between chivalric duty and marital love. Montijn-de Fouw contrasts the French original with the Welsh *Mabinogion* version, noting how the latter introduces themes of jealousy absent in the French text. Another featured story is that of Walewein and the Green Knight, a classic example of an anonymous knight proving his worth through bravery and loyalty before revealing his identity. The anthology also covers the tragic romance of Tristan and Isolde, the spiritual quest of Percival and the Holy Grail following the Germanic tradition of Wolfram von Eschenbach, and the rise of the humble squire Gareth. The book addresses darker aspects of the legends, including the rivalry between Lancelot and Gawain and the eventual downfall of Arthur's court. Throughout, Montijn-de Fouw provides scholarly context, discussing the influence of French romances on Dutch literature and the contributions of poets like Jacob van Maerlant and Lodewijk van Velthem. She acknowledges the absence of Middle Dutch originals in favor of more original French and Welsh sources. Illustrated by Arthur Rackham, the book serves as both an anthology of adventure and a historical survey of how these legends spread across Europe, preserving the spirit of chivalry and the romantic idealism of the 12th and 13th centuries.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Classics
• Romance