King Horn, A Middle English Romance

By Joseph Hall

Book Overview

King Horn is a foundational Middle English romance, a living echo from thirteenth-century England that still quickens modern readers. It rings with courtly courage. This terse, vivid narrative belongs among the essential works of medieval literature: an Anglo-Norman narrative shaped into vernacular verse, where chivalric adventure tales meet courtly love themes in brisk, memorable scenes. In Hall's presentation the poem's plain force and lyric cadences become accessible without blunting their medieval edge. The language favours directness over ornament; action and feeling appear in compact episodes that point to the roots of later legendary heroes stories and influence on classic English poetry. For casual readers who relish bold, page-turning tradition, King Horn offers immediate pleasure; for scholars and undergraduates it functions as a valuable literature students resource, a concise witness among early English texts that rewards both first readings and close study. Republished by Alpha Editions in a careful modern edition, this volume preserves the spirit of the original while making it effortless to enjoy today - a heritage title prepared for readers and collectors alike. Its historical significance is plain: as one of the earlier surviving romances it illuminates how Anglo-Norman forms and native English verse intertwined in thirteenth century England, and it remains an indispensable exemplar for medieval studies collections. Collectors and enthusiasts of classic English poetry and chivalric adventure tales will find a cultural treasure here, while instructors will welcome a compact, approachable text for courses tracing the emergence of narrative, lyric energy and the long tradition of legendary heroes stories. The poem's short, vivid episodes make it ideal for reading aloud, seminar discussion and comparison with later romances, offering a practical bridge between classroom study and pleasurable reading. For those building a focused library of early English texts, this edition is both a study resource and an elegant addition to any shelf.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9354189369
• ISBN13: 9789354189364
• Release Date: October 2020
• Publisher: Alpha Edition
• Length: 392 Pages
• Weight: 1.26 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 9.0"