Robert the Devil:

The First Modern English Translation of Robert le Diable, an Anonymous French Romance of the Thirteenth Century

By: Samuel N. Rosenberg (Translator)

Write A Review

Paperback | 18 November 2019

At a Glance

Paperback
168 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.2

Paperback

$43.99

or 4 interest-free payments of $11.00 with

Aims to ship in 5 to 10 business days

Samuel N. Rosenberg, one of the premier translators of Old French, presents in this volume the first modern English-language version of the thirteenth-century French romance Robert le Diable, a tale of supernatural birth and spiritual redemption.

Robert is born after his mother, a childless noblewoman, secretly calls upon Satan to help her conceive. His wicked behavior as a boy and, later, as a destructive young man is so brutal that one day Robert prevails upon his mother to reveal the secret of his birth and thus the source of his wickedness. Upon learning the truth, he leaves his privileged home in Normandy to seek salvation. Robert's lengthy penance--under the aegis of the Pope and a pious hermit--begins with his acting as a mute fool in the Roman Emperor's court and ends with his sainthood. In between he plays the hero's role in defeating the Turks in battle and turns down the hand of the Emperor's daughter in marriage, choosing instead to return to the hermit's abode.

The legend of Robert le Diable was extraordinarily influential in the seven hundred years after its creation, generating new versions and adaptations in various languages, ranging from sixteenth-century English adaptations by Wynken de Worde and Thomas Lodge to Giacomo Meyerbeer's esteemed 1831 opera. Framed by a thoughtful introduction and thorough bibliography, this accessible translation renders the original octosyllabic rhymed couplets of the metrical Old French romance in energetic free verse.

Industry Reviews

"Rosenberg's lively, yet faithful rendition of this classic tale is a welcome addition to the corpus of works in Old French now available to a wider audience. The legend's vitality in the various adaptations it has assumed, along with Robert's devilish charisma, make the text an important subject for further research in genre and character studies."

—Stacey Hahn, Speculum

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.