Renaut de Bage, 'Le Bel Inconnu': ('Li Biaus Descouneus'; 'The Fair Unknown')

Le Bel Inconnu is a medieval romance poem by Renaut de Bâgé, edited and translated by Karen Fresco. It includes an introduction exploring the author's life, the poem's sources and influences, and its broader genre, with close textual notes, an index of proper nouns, and an examination of Renaut's Song Leals Amors Qest Dedanz Fin Cuer Mise.

Format: Hardback
Length: 498 pages
Publication date: 07 May 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Originally published in 1992, Le Bel Inconnu, edited and with an introduction by Karen Fresco, presents on facing pages the original Old French text and the English translation of this significant medieval romance poem by Renaut de Bâgé. The extensive introduction to the text includes an exploration into the life of the author, Renaut de Bâgé, as well as a detailed assessment of the poem, its sources and influences, and the broader genre of medieval romance. It is also equipped with close textual notes, an index of proper nouns, and an examination of Renaut's Song Leals Amors Qest Dedanz Fin Cuer Mise, including the musical scores.

Renaut de Bâgé was a poet of the 13th century who lived in France. He is best known for his poem "Le Bel Inconnu," which is considered one of the greatest works of medieval romance. The poem tells the story of a young knight who falls in love with a mysterious woman who is known only as "The Beloved." The knight travels far and wide in search of her, encountering many challenges and adventures along the way.

The poem is written in Old French, which was the language of literature in France during the Middle Ages. The English translation provided in Le Bel Inconnu is by Karen Fresco, who has done an excellent job of capturing the beauty and complexity of the original text.

The introduction to Le Bel Inconnu provides a wealth of information about the life of Renaut de Bâgé. It discusses his background, education, and career as a poet. It also explores the social and political context in which he lived, which was marked by the rise of the aristocracy and the decline of the church.

The introduction also provides a detailed assessment of the poem, its sources and influences. It discusses the themes of love, loyalty, and honor that are central to the poem and how they reflect the values of the medieval world. It also examines the poem's use of language and imagery, which are particularly powerful and evocative.

In addition to the introduction, Le Bel Inconnu includes close textual notes that provide additional information and analysis of the poem. These notes explain the historical and cultural context of the poem, as well as the literary and linguistic techniques that Renaut de Bâgé used. They also provide insight into the poem's meaning and significance.

Finally, the book also includes an examination of Renaut's Song Leals Amors Qest Dedanz Fin Cuer Mise, which is a musical score. The song is based on the poem and is performed by various musicians throughout the book. The musical scores.

Weight: 1080g
ISBN-13: 9780367529291