The Story of Attila in Prose: A Critical Edition and Translation of the Estoire d'Atile en prose

The Story of Attila in Prose is the first critical edition and translation of the thirteenth-century Franco-Italian prose text, the Estoire d'Attila en prose. It recounts the fictional founding of Venice after the invasion of Aquileia by Attila the Hun and includes a critical apparatus and introduction. It is important reading for historians and literary critics.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 174 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The Story of Attila in Prose is the inaugural critical edition and translation of the thirteenth-century Franco-Italian prose text known as the Estoire d'Atile en prose. Preserved in two anonymous and untitled manuscripts, written between the last quarter of the thirteenth century and the beginning of the fourteenth century, the story unfolds the fictional account of the founding of Venice following the invasion of Aquileia by Attila the Hun. The manuscripts, housed in Zagreb and Venice, delve into the intricate details of Attila's pagan mother, her unconventional union with a dog, his wild birth, and his peculiar demise during a chess match. Additionally, they shed light on the origins of the Holy Grail. This edition and translation are grounded in the Zagreb manuscript, which was recently unearthed. The book boasts a comprehensive critical apparatus that includes rejected readings and variants from the Venetian manuscript, along with a thorough introduction that explores the literary significance of the text, its potential sources, and its profound influence on subsequent literature. It holds immense importance for historians of medieval Europe and literary scholars alike.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032101118