A recent perusal of a modern encyclopedia revealed a mere three-line entry for Roland, the great hero of the Chanson de Roland, one of the earliest epic masterpieces of medieval French literature. Yet his story, and those of the other great knights of Christendom, helped shape the ideals and imagination of Western civilization. How many young people today have even heard of them?
Page, Esquire and Knight offers a delightful introduction to this almost-forgotten world. Drawing upon such giants of literature as Malory's Morte d'Arthur, Tennyson's Arthurian poems, and the original Chanson de Roland, Marion Florence Lansing reintroduces us to these legendary figures, from the adventures of King Arthur, Roland and Charlemagne, to Godfrey de Bouillon and the Crusaders, St. George, and the celebrated Chevalier Bayard.
But these are more than tales of battles and daring deeds. At the heart of chivalry lay an ideal of Christian knighthood, in which courage was joined to courtesy, and loyalty and self-discipline lent themselves to the defense of the vulnerable. From the first lessons of a young page to the solemn vows of a knight, Lansing reveals the high ideals that gave these great stories their enduring power.
Engagingly written and illustrated with Charles Copeland's vivid drawings, this collection opens the door to some of the great classics of Western literature—and may well inspire young readers to explore the originals for themselves.
5.5" x 8.5" paperback 134 pages