Troilus and Cressida

63. Troilus and Criseyde (Broadview Editions) by Geoffrey Chaucer
editors: James McMurrin Dean & Harriet Spiegel (2016)
OPD: 1385
format: 450-page oversized paperback with the original text and notes on the same page.
acquired: April 2022 read: (Aug 26) Sep 8 – Nov 19 time reading: 34:48, 4.6 mpp
rating: 5
genre/style: Middle English epic poetry theme: Chaucer
locations: Troy
about the author: Chaucer (~1342 – October 25, 1400) was an English poet and civil servant.

extended excerpts:
- Le Roman de Troie by Benoît de Sainte-Maure (c1160), translated from French by Robert K. Gordon (1934)
- Il Filostrato by Giovanni Boccaccio (c1340), translated from Italian by Robert K. Gordon (1934)
- The Testament of Cresseid by Robert Henryson (1532). show more Translated by the editors (2016)
- Metamorphoses by Ovid (7 ce), translated from Latin by Rolfe Humphries 1961
- Ars Amatoria (The Art of Love) by Ovid (3 bce), translated by Rolfe Humphries 1957
- The Consolation of Philosophy by Ancius Boethius (524), translated from Latin by Victor Watts (1969, 1999)
- On Love by Andreas Capellanus (c1190), translated from French by P.G. Walsh (1993)
- Romance of the Rose by Guillaume de Lorris and Jean de Meun (c1230/c1275), translated from French by Charles Dahlberg (1971)
- Canzoniere Sonnet 132 by Francesco Petrarch (c1370), translated from Italian by A.S. Kline (2002)
- Commentary on Cicero's Dream of Scipio by Macrobius (c400), translated from Latin by William Harris Stahl (1952,1990,2009)
- excerpts from Lovesick in the Middle Ages: The Viaticum and Its Commentaries by Mary Wack (1990)
--- Viaticum by Constantine the African (1000s) - a Latin translation from Arabic of Zad Al Mussafir by Ibn Al Jazzar (900's)
--- Glosses on the Viaticum by Gerald of Berry (c1236), translated from Latin
--- Treatise on the Viaticum by Bona Fortuna (c1320), translated from Latin

Well. I can't possibly review this. What I can say is that this Broadview Press edition is fantastic. It has the original language with some spelling clarifications, along with notes. And Chaucer is readable enough today that that is enough information and allows the reader to enjoy the poetry, especially play of sound. I don't think Chaucer is readable without help (or extensive knowledge of the London dialect of Middle English).

Also, I really enjoyed this. It's a highlight of my year. I read it in the morning for 20 to 40 minutes and relished it, reading only six or so pages at a sitting. The plot is simple. The text is largely dialogue, one character speaking for pages at a time. I never felt in danger of getting lost and I never worried about breaking off at any point, or about pressing on until some conclusion.

Also, it's humor. I never felt the need to take anything seriously, even Chaucer's philosophical side points. This surprised me a little because everything I read about this led to me expect some deep Christian-era-friendly thoughts. This is supposed to be Chaucer's big serious effort at artistry and reputation. But this is funny, elegant and funny. And, also, it is not clean. The tone is always playful, as playful as the language.

I think the language and linguistic play is the main point here. I enjoyed this aspect so much.

The best character is Pandarus, the uncle of Criseyde and friend of Trojan prince, Troilus. He is a gamer through and through. The game is how to get his niece linked to the number one bachelor in Troy. I couldn't help imagining that Chaucer saw himself in Pandarus, but that's my impression. The character Troilus, meanwhile, is comically ridiculous. He's spineless and roiling in bed suffering from lovesickness. When Pandarus sets the world up for him, and the world is his in Book 3, he comes alive a little. He is thoroughly tragic in Book 4, and it's almost moving until we remember him in bed in back in the early books. Criseyde (maybe pronounced "Christ-eyed", but the pronunciation, based on the rhymes, seems ambiguous) is ultimately practical. She's a convincing lover, and I was left thinking I never got her right, that it was never clear where her true feelings lay. Somehow Pandarus makes the match, but he gets no benefit from it or its tragic end. The more Pandarus was present, the better Chaucer's writing was, in my opinion.

I wish I could conclude. One for the brave, thoroughly rewarding.

2023
https://www.librarything.com/topic/354226#8291135 show less

Words fail to describe how wonderful this book is. I bought it on a whim and just fell in love with the English language all over again. George Krapp did a re-translation of Chaucer's English, keeping the stanzas and rhyme scheme like the original, and bringing out the beauty and the ancient-ness of English. He also provides a history in the Prologue of how Chaucer's tale came about, what his sources were, and how he delved into Homer's small mention of Troilus to create this tale. And Eric Gill has pen-and-ink drawings in the margins, repeated throughout, that are quite lovely. And more than a little racy.

The story is one of Troilus, a younger son of Priam, who falls in love with the fair Cressida. Her uncle, Pandar, sees the emotions show more between the two, realizes the possibilities, and arranges a dinner party for them to meet. And encourages Troilus to arise from his couch in a swoon and declare his love to Cressida. All proceeds apace, the lovers are oft-united, she loves him, he loves her,

Until the parliaments of Troy decide that Cressida should be sent to the Greeks in exchange for Antanor. And despite the wails and tears (it is a bit on the swooning side of melodrama) of the two lovers in private, they realize their duty is to Troy and since they are not betrothed, nor likely to be, Cressida is sent to the enemy to be a carefully guarded prize.

Betrayal ensues, death ensues, and there Chaucer leaves it. Krapp gives an additional ending by a Scottish poet, Robert Henryson, to Cressida's fate after Troilus is killed in battle.

And if there are any authors out there who are looking for re-tellings of ancient women's lives, this would be a marvelous tale to re-tell. show less

Very hard work getting through the Chaucerian language.

Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde rendered into modern English prose by R. M. Lumiansky, Professor of English, Tulane University. Illustrated by H. Lawrence Hoffman. Includes a portion of the original Middle English text. Published by the University of South Carolina Press, Columbia. Copyright 1952. Printed by The State Commercial Printing Company, Columbia. Illustrations by the Meriden Gravure Company, Meriden, Connecticut.

bookshelves: autumn-2013, classic, historical-fiction, published-1385, poetry, epic-proportions, war, radio-4x, lit-richer, troy, love, medieval5c-16c, ancient-history
Recommended for: Laura, Susanna
Read from October 18 to 21, 2013


Listen here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/...

BBC BLURB: Dramatisation of Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde.

One of the great works of English literature, this powerful, compelling story explores love from its first tentative beginnings through to passionate sensuality and eventual tragic disillusionment. Lavinia Greenlaw's new version for radio brings Chaucer's language up-to-date for a modern audience while remaining true to his original poetic intention.

After seeing the beautiful widow Criseyde at the show more temple in Troy, Troilus falls instantly in love with her. Inexperienced in love, he is unable to act on his feelings and locks himself in his room to compose love songs. Pandarus, worried for his friend, eventually persuades Troilus to tell him why he is so miserable and is delighted to hear that the cause is Troilus' love for his niece Criseyde.

Worried about her reputation, Criseyde is at first reluctant to enter into a relationship with Troilus. After much cajoling and manipulation, she reluctantly comes around to the idea. Pandarus is frustrated that the relationship is moving too slowly and engineers a complex plan to get Criseyde and Troilus in bed together.

Troilus ...... Tom Ferguson
Criseyde ...... Maxine Peake
Pandarus ...... Malcolm Raeburn
Servant/Friend ...... Kathryn Hunt
Calchas/Servant ...... Kevin Doyle
Priam/Servant ...... Terence Mann
Hector/Diomede ...... Declan Wilson

With music composed by Gary Yershon and performed by Ehsan Emam, Tim
Williams and Mike Dale.

1. Criseyde is a young widow, so her uncle Pandarus introduces her to Trojan hero Troilus.

2. Troilus and Criseyde are in love, but she's about to be handed over to the Greeks.

Directed by Susan Roberts. show less

First issued in Everyman's library 1953