Alice Kemp-Welch (1856–1944)

This book is the 1904 translation of an Anglo-Norman (early french) manuscript held in the British Library. It is believed to be penned by a monk in the 13th century, there is some uncertainty over whether or not the monk in the 13th century was writing the manuscript or copying the manuscript from another source.

Disputed as a biography it contains definite embellishment (most notably when Fulk Fitz-Warine fights a dragon) however whether this is merely embellishment or total fictionalisation hasn't been confirmed. At any rate there is definite proven factual points in the book, some possible conjecture, and some definite fiction.

Moving onto the writing itself, being a translation of an early manuscript it's rather rigid language which at times is rather inaccessible. The book is interesting from a history perspective however in terms of the actual enjoyment of reading it is rather dry and lacklustre.… (more)