This translation, first published in 1993, presents a little-known medieval romance to readers who do not know Old French, or who are generally unfamiliar with the literature of the Middle Ages.
Probably composed between 1190 and 1220, the major interest of
Amadas and Ydoine
to modern readers is that its basic structure is unflinchingly conventional, its plot is predictable yet charming, and its social and moral attitudes reflect the context in which it was produced. The poet explores how love, chivalry and martial prowess can translate a would-be knight into a powerful lord. Its purpose is largely that of wish-fulfilment for young men, and as such it is highly indicative of the ethos surrounding marriage that prevailed in medieval French society.