Encyclopedia of Medieval Literature - by Robert Thomas Lambdin & Laura Lambdin Hardcover

About the Book

Often misleadingly called the Dark Ages, the period between the fall of Rome and the Renaissance was a time of great creativity. The Middle Ages gave rise to some of the world's most enduring and influential literary works, including Dante's Commedia, Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, and a large body of Arthurian lore and legend. This reference is a comprehensive guide to literature written between 500 and 1500. While the volume is primarily devoted to the early literature of England, it also includes entries for historical persons and subjects of cultural relevance which would have been discussed in literary works or which might have affected their creation. Multicultural in scope, the book also covers Islamic, Hispanic, Celtic, Mongolian, Germanic, Italian, and Russian literature and culture of the Middle Ages.

Longer entries provide thorough coverage of major English authors such as Chaucer and Malory, and of entire genres, such as drama, lyric, ballad, debate, saga, chronicle, and hagiography. Shorter entries examine particular literary works; significant kings, artists, explorers, and religious leaders; important themes, such as courtly love and chivalry; and major historical events, such as the Crusades. The entries are written by scholars and each entry concludes with a brief bibliography. The volume closes with a list of the most valuable general works for further reading.

Book Synopsis

Often misleadingly called the Dark Ages, the period between the fall of Rome and the Renaissance was a time of great creativity. The Middle Ages gave rise to some of the world's most enduring and influential literary works, including Dante's Commedia, Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, and a large body of Arthurian lore and legend. This reference is a comprehensive guide to literature written between 500 and 1500. While the volume is primarily devoted to the early literature of England, it also includes entries for historical persons and subjects of cultural relevance which would have been discussed in literary works or which might have affected their creation. Multicultural in scope, the book also covers Islamic, Hispanic, Celtic, Mongolian, Germanic, Italian, and Russian literature and culture of the Middle Ages.

Longer entries provide thorough coverage of major English authors such as Chaucer and Malory, and of entire genres, such as drama, lyric, ballad, debate, saga, chronicle, and hagiography. Shorter entries examine particular literary works; significant kings, artists, explorers, and religious leaders; important themes, such as courtly love and chivalry; and major historical events, such as the Crusades. The entries are written by scholars and each entry concludes with a brief bibliography. The volume closes with a list of the most valuable general works for further reading.

Review Quotes

?[L]ibrarians looking for a handy reference on medieval literature will want to consider this book.?-Against the Grain

?[T]he encyclopedia meets its stated goal of providing a useful reference tool for the researcher at the advanced high-scool level and above.?-Reference Books Bulletin

?Both its brevity and its content make this work recommendable for most academic libraries and large public libraries.?-ARBA

?Scholarly and thorough, this encyclopedia is an excellent starting point to research topics pertaining to the Middle Ages....An excellent addition to any library's reference collection; recommended for undergraduates, graduate students, and medievalists.?-Choice

?The bibliographies accompanying each entry however are thorough, and their emphasis upon the last two decades of literary research make this a useful supplement to the larger Dictionary of the Middle Ages.?-Lawrence Looks at Books

?The Encyclopedia of Medieval Literature is a superbly presented reference providing a comprehensive guide to literature written between 500 and 1500, examining the early works of England and the individuals which may have affected or participated in their creation. An excellent college-level reference for students of medieval writing.?-The Midwest Book Review

?This is a monumental work of scholarship with 523 well-written entries, each supplemented by a well-chosen bibliography as well as a general bibliography. Essential for academic libraries, this should be considered by public libraries as well.?-Library Journal

"ÝL¨ibrarians looking for a handy reference on medieval literature will want to consider this book."-Against the Grain

"ÝT¨he encyclopedia meets its stated goal of providing a useful reference tool for the researcher at the advanced high-scool level and above."-Reference Books Bulletin

"[L]ibrarians looking for a handy reference on medieval literature will want to consider this book."-Against the Grain

"[T]he encyclopedia meets its stated goal of providing a useful reference tool for the researcher at the advanced high-scool level and above."-Reference Books Bulletin

"Both its brevity and its content make this work recommendable for most academic libraries and large public libraries."-ARBA

"Scholarly and thorough, this encyclopedia is an excellent starting point to research topics pertaining to the Middle Ages....An excellent addition to any library's reference collection; recommended for undergraduates, graduate students, and medievalists."-Choice

"The bibliographies accompanying each entry however are thorough, and their emphasis upon the last two decades of literary research make this a useful supplement to the larger Dictionary of the Middle Ages."-Lawrence Looks at Books

"This is a monumental work of scholarship with 523 well-written entries, each supplemented by a well-chosen bibliography as well as a general bibliography. Essential for academic libraries, this should be considered by public libraries as well."-Library Journal

"The Encyclopedia of Medieval Literature is a superbly presented reference providing a comprehensive guide to literature written between 500 and 1500, examining the early works of England and the individuals which may have affected or participated in their creation. An excellent college-level reference for students of medieval writing."-The Midwest Book Review

About the Author

ROBERT THOMAS LAMBDIN is Assistant Professor of English in the Provisional Year Program of the College of Applied Professional Sciences, University of South Carolina.

LAURA COONER LAMBDIN teaches Professional Communications in the University of South Carolina's Moore School of Business. She was previously Assistant Professor of English at Francis Marion University. Her articles have appeared in journals such as Philological Quarterly, Quondam et Futurus, and Year's Studies in Medievalism. Together they edited Chaucer's Pilgrims: An Historical Guide to the Pilgrims in The Canterbury Tales (Greenwood, 1996).