SOMEONE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, PLEASE TRANSLATE THIS INTO ENGLISH!
I have known about the existence of the Romance of Escanor for a couple of long, painful years now. It was written by Girart D'Amiens in graceful medieval French at the end of the 13th century, and published in a German translation in 1886. It is an Arthurian romance that I mostly have read about in various summaries in various sources.
Here is the gist:
Sir Kay falls in love.
If you are as big a fan of Arthurian lore as I am, you probably know Sir Kay, Arthur's foster-brother, Camelot's senechal, and the resident cynic of the Round Table. He is the guy that is not exactly great at fighting (forgetting his sword at his first tournament kicks off the whole sword-in-the-stone thing, after all), but damn he knows how to run a court full of self-involved knights. He is the one behind all the feasts, making sure there is enough food and wine, he is your guy when you need to throw a tournament, and, most of all, he is there to mercilessly rip on any newbie who wants to become a Knight of the Round Table. He does not hold back from voicing his opinions, and he has a mean word for everyone.
He is, for all intents and purposes, the Dr. House of Camelot.
(He even gets a limp at some point)
And in the Romance of Escanor, this guy finds his match.
Apart from the fact that this is the ONLY story we know where Sir Kay is romantically involved with anyone (not counting the time they accused him of having an affair with the Queen just to find out it was Lancelot), it also sounds like a ton of fun from the summaries. Kay is not only awkward when in love, but he also retains his sarcastic tongue, and is in turn matched by Andrivete of Northumbria, the damsel (and queen) of the story. If you have a thing for love-hate banter chick flicks... well, this is probably infinitely better, because well, it is Arthurian.
There is also some additional plot involving Sir Gawain, or whatever.
I swear I would learn French (or better German) just for this. But apart from my own selfish storytelling and Kay-fangirling desires, I feel like English-speaking Arthur fans miss out on a lot without this story.
Someone who has some free time (a couple of months, you know) and a solid grasp of 13th century French:
PLEASE.
PLEASE?
PLEEEEASE.
Posts
I am definitely not a Kay-fangirl. I found him pompous and annoying. :) But I do love Arthurian legend. Sorry to say that I do not know French...unless you count voulez-vous le beurre (and I even had to Google how to spell beurre for that one). I don't think that would help you much... Elle @ Erratic Project Junkie
ReplyDeleteHey, it's been quite sometime since I last read an Arthurian story, but sir Kay has always been one of my favourite.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of this story before, so thanks so much for sharing it.
Oh my. Razor sharp-tongued man becomes all awkward around a girl? Sign me up. Sadly, I don't know French, let along 13th century French. I'll pray to the translation gods for...well, a translation. :P
ReplyDeleteAnyone who makes sure of the grub and drinks has to be my kind of guy! Love Arthurian legends.
ReplyDeleteCompletely hear you on the translation bit...so many great stories..so few translations!! E for Exasperating!
Best,
Nilanjana
Madly-in-Verse
I'm sorry, I suck at languages except English :) Sounds like a great story - you keep making these epics sound like such fun. I had no idea one of the knights was a sarcastic whatnot :).
ReplyDeleteTasha
Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)
It's a pity no one translated this into English! epics are great fun to read, there's so much you can learn!
ReplyDelete(Did my comment go to moderation, or did I hit the wrong button? I'm reposting just in case.)
ReplyDeleteI'm neck-deep in Bulgarian right now, but French is my other strong language. I could probably manage a tellable translation from Old French (I've done it before with Berthe aus grans pies). Ask me again in September?
I didn't expect you to do it right now :D Just remembered we talked about the story. Have fun in Bulgaria! :)
DeleteDelighted to know there is more Arthur out there. Thanks for hunting it down.
ReplyDeleteWell, I do speak German and modern French, but alas, not the medieval version. I didn't remember Sir Kay, but isn't it great that even a grumpy old knight can find love? ☺
ReplyDeleteI never even heard of this knight. Sounds like the kind of fun story I would love.
ReplyDeleteIf you get a lot of volunteers that have intimate knowledge of 13th century French, I want a list for reference. I kinda think that might be translator gold.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Glad you're in the A-to-Z!
Cherdo
www.cherdoontheflipside.com
Hope someone hears your plea and does that translation for you and many others who would love to read the story in English.
ReplyDeleteIt's always frustrating when a fascinating book, or a book we really want to read, isn't translated. I can read very basic French, but I'm nowhere near good enough to translate anything, let alone from the Middle Ages.
ReplyDeleteI wish it was converted...
ReplyDeleteOkay then, time to learn French I say!
ReplyDeleteHow brilliantly engaging! Kay is the man!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this! Sir Kay sound very ok - the go to guy. I LOVE anything to do with the Athurian legends. How about you doing the translation? PLEASE!
ReplyDeleteYou would think that someone round here would do that translation - I live very near Glastonbury and the Isle of Avalon! Beautiful countryside. ~Liz http://www.lizbrownleepoet.com
ReplyDeleteDo it! Sounds like a side to the legend that's not too well known. A snarky knight sounds fun.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds amazing! I might have to crack out my rusty German to try reading this.
ReplyDeleteWonderful, really lovely this Arthurian story Escanor!
ReplyDeleteOooh...this one sounds like it would be so much fun! I second on the English translation. :)
ReplyDeleteReally cool to have discovered a story almost no one in the English-speaking world has heard of!
ReplyDeleteI hope you get your wish one day.
wow there's so much I don't know... I like love-hate kind of stories, Sir Kay sounds like a fun character :)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like it would make an awesome read! I'd like to see it in English, too! Can we petition university professors? ;)
ReplyDeleteAlex Hurst, A Fantasy Author in Kyoto
A-Z Blogging in April Participant
I'm with you. I'd like to read the translation too!
ReplyDeleteVisiting from the A To Z Blog Challenge. Firstly, Hi to a fellow ginger. Secondly, its a pity I don't read German.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I'm in. As soon as I can get my head around French again, I'll dig in.
ReplyDeleteI read part of the summary. It does sound intriguing! :)
ReplyDelete