The Knight and Chivalry
by Richard Barber
On This Page
Description
A combination of scholarship with quite exemplary thoroughness. SPECTATORA profoundly intelligent book which combines the results of monumental research with elegance and lucidity.DAILY TELEGRAPHThe concept of chivalry is one of the central ideas of the medieval world. It developed out of the unique intellectual and practical climate of the times, and found expression in both words and deeds. Richard Barber's wide knowledge of medieval literature and history gives special depth to his study show more of this fascinating subject. From the prehistory of chivalry -- the warrior-knights of early medieval Europe and their developing social role -- he moves to an exploration of the chansons de geste, the early romances, and the biographies and handbooks for aspiring knights, to discover the early expressions of the chivalric code. In an extended survey of tournaments and of the knight on the battlefield in the incessant warfare of the middle ages, he studies chivalry in action. Aspects of chivalry, the tensions inherent in courtly love and honourable warfare, made the church's antagonism inevitable, but also gave rise to the great adventure of the crusades and the foundation of the military orders, here vividly recounted. Last but not least comes the adoption of the ideals of chivalry by the princes of western Europe in the formation of the secular orders, before the knight was ultimately transformed into the renaissance courtier.Second edition, revised, expanded and updated.Dr RICHARD BARBER is the author of The Arthurian Legends, King Arthur: Hero and Legend, Tournaments, biographies of Henry II and the Black Prince and The Penguin Guide to Medieval Europe. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
In general, I think Barber puts too much emphasis on religion's influence on chivalry, but overall, this is an excellent discussion of chivalry and its evolution throughout the Middle Ages, full of colorful detail about how knights perceived their role in society and acted out that role.
Read most of this for exam revision, quite interesting and informative, but book in such bad condition it had to be thrown away:( Fairly typical 'academic' work and perhaps would not read again?
Ratings
Members
- Recently Added By
Lists
In Our Time books
4,934 works; 2 members
Author Information
60+ Works 5,123 Members
Awards and Honors
Awards
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Knight and Chivalry
- Original publication date
- 1970
- People/Characters
- William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke; Chretien de Troyes; Wolfram von Eschenbach; Gottfried von Strassburg; Ulrich von Lichtenstein; Marie de Champagne (show all 8); Andreas Capellanus; Louis IX, King of France
- Important places
- Outremer
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 242
- Popularity
- 133,871
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.73)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 7
- ASINs
- 1
