The Middle English popular romances enjoyed a wide appeal in later medieval Britain, and even today students of medieval literature will encounter examples of the genre, such as Sir Orfeo, Sir Tristrem, and Sir Launfal. This collection of twelve specially commissioned essays is designed to meet the need for a stimulating guide to the genre. Each essay introduces one popular romance, setting it in its literary and historical contexts, and develops an original interpretation that reveals the possibilities that popular romances offer for modern literary criticism. A substantial introduction by the editors discusses the production and transmission of popular romances in the Middle Ages, and considers the modern reception of popular romance and the interpretative challenges offered by new theoretical approaches.Accessible to advanced students of English, this book is also of interest to those working in the field of medieval studies, comparative literature, and popular culture.

Preface Notes on references and abbreviations Introduction Chapter 1 Lai le Freine: The Female Foundling and the Prolem of Romance Genre Chapter 2 Lanval to Sir Laurifal: A Story Becomes Popular Chapter 3 The Tale ef Gamelyn: Class Warfare and the Embarrassments of Genre Chhapter 4 The Romance Hypothetical: Lordship and the Saracens in Sir Isumbras Chapter 5 Violence, Narrative and Proper Name: Sir Degare, 'The Tale of Sir Gareth of Orkney', and the Folie Tristan d'OxfOrd Chapter 6 Loving Beasts: The Romance of William ef Paleme Chapter 7: The Narrative Logic of Emare Chapter 8 Tiie Seege ef Troye: 'ff or wham was wakened al this wo'? Chapter 9 Romance and Its Discontents in Eger and Grime Chapter 10 From Beyond the Grave: Darkness at Noon in Tiie Awnfyrs qff Arthure Chapter 11 Gender, Oaths and Ambiguity in Sir Tristrem and Beroul's Roman de Tristan Chapter 12 Sir Difeo: Madness and Gender bliography Notes on contributors Index