
The Taill of Rauf Coilyear
Ralph Hanna(Editor)
Scottish Text Society (Publisher)
Published on 15. March 2019
Book
Hardback
158 pages
978-1-897976-37-1 (ISBN)
Description
First edition of a lively medieval romance.
The author of the fifteenth-century Older Scots romance of Rauf Coilyear may be unknown, but the popularity of this comic king-in-disguise tale is undisputed; it is cited by William Dunbar and Gavin Douglas at the turn of the century, and again in the mid-sixteenth century Complaynt of Scotland. The disguised king in this case is Charlemagne, and the hero a bluff collier called Ralph, who unwittingly plays host to him for one stormy night and teaches his bemused guest some rough lessons in his own version of courtesy. When Ralph is lured to court, the mistaken identities continue as he encounters the great Sir Roland and battles Saracens. Throughout, the scrappy hero maintains his dignity, as indeed does his king: both parties finish the tale immensely pleased with each other and with the bond they have forged.
The text survives only in a 1572 print by Robert Lekpreuik (whose own career seems tohave been only marginally less exciting than Rauf's: he printed it in St Andrews while attempting to evade imprisonment in Edinburgh, ultimately without success). It is edited here with an introduction and notes.
RALPHHANNA is Emeritus Professor of Palaeography, University of Oxford.
The author of the fifteenth-century Older Scots romance of Rauf Coilyear may be unknown, but the popularity of this comic king-in-disguise tale is undisputed; it is cited by William Dunbar and Gavin Douglas at the turn of the century, and again in the mid-sixteenth century Complaynt of Scotland. The disguised king in this case is Charlemagne, and the hero a bluff collier called Ralph, who unwittingly plays host to him for one stormy night and teaches his bemused guest some rough lessons in his own version of courtesy. When Ralph is lured to court, the mistaken identities continue as he encounters the great Sir Roland and battles Saracens. Throughout, the scrappy hero maintains his dignity, as indeed does his king: both parties finish the tale immensely pleased with each other and with the bond they have forged.
The text survives only in a 1572 print by Robert Lekpreuik (whose own career seems tohave been only marginally less exciting than Rauf's: he printed it in St Andrews while attempting to evade imprisonment in Edinburgh, ultimately without success). It is edited here with an introduction and notes.
RALPHHANNA is Emeritus Professor of Palaeography, University of Oxford.
Reviews / Votes
The extensive scholarly resources provided in addition to the poem will make this a valuable edition for scholars and students alike. * MEDIUM AEVUM *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
1 s/w Abbildung
1 b/w illus.
Dimensions
Height: 218 mm
Width: 150 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
386 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-897976-37-1 (9781897976371)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Ralph Hanna
Content
Introduction
The Text
Notes
Bibliography
Glossary
Index of Proper Names
The Text
Notes
Bibliography
Glossary
Index of Proper Names