Maurice Henry Hewlett (1861–1923)

I'm taking a star off for repeating the blood libel in 1901 (that story has a deep kinship with the Prioress's Tale from Chaucer & I don't think we need to perpetuate medieval anti-semitism); that said, the rest of it is, if you can stomach a lot of 19th century projecting back on the Middle Ages gender essentialism (aside from the cross-dressing in the last story!) very well-executed – his command of the archaic language is impressive, though of course it's less medieval and more the show more 19th century idea of medieval – all courtly dames and noble knights and a few dastards. If you can turn off the critical parts of your brain it's entertaining. show less

Charles Williams, one of the Inkling group, was rather scathing in his criticism of Hewlett in his book War in Heaven, but I rather liked this story. OK, it's not high literature, but it's a pleasant "knights-in-armour/damsel in distress" story in the Victorian style.

It probably helps that the edition I have is also very nicely illustrated.

A retelling of GIsli's Saga

I liked this because the title uses the nickname (ocetnon) actually used for Richard "the Lionheart" in his own time.