Dahlberg, Charles, ed., The Romaunt of the Rose (Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press. A Variorum Edition of the Works of Geoffrey Chaucer. Vol. 7,1999). ISBN: 806131470 Find this book in a library
The Romaunt of the Rose; The Romance of the Rose; Le Roman de la Rose
271
- Chaucer, Geoffrey
- Guillame de Lorris
- Jean de Meun
1370 - 1380
Hunter 409, Glasgow University Library
- English - Middle English
- Original language included
- England
London
- Literature - Verse
- Translation
- Literature - Comedy / Satire
- Literature - Epics, Romance
- War - Chivalry
- Women / Gender
- Index
- Bibliography
- Introduction
The 70-page introduction discusses the authorship of the Romaunt of the Rose, the translation, Chaucer and the Roman, and the manuscript and printed editions.
RLL
This edition is designed for serious students and scholars. The Roman de la Rose was written in French by Guillaume de Lorris and Jean de Meun, and Chaucer translated parts of the Roman into Middle English. The translation is incomplete, and Chaucer may have written some of it himself. From 1532 to 1860, most scholars believed that Chaucer had written the Romaunt himself; from 1860 to 1890 there was growing doubt about his authorship; and after 1890, most scholars believe that Chaucer wrote part of it, although some deny that he wrote any of it. Many scholars also believe that the translation is not Chaucer’s best work, which may suggest that it was done early in his writing career. The Roman influenced Chaucer’s later works, especially the Canterbury Tales. The only manuscript of the Romaunt is Glasgow University Library, Hunter 409. The manuscript contains only the Romaunt, and is missing 11 leaves. Considered by many to be one of the greatest poets of the English language, Geoffrey Chaucer was born in London in the 1340s. He was a page in the household of Elizabeth, Countess of Ulster, who was married to Prince Lionel, one of King Edward III’s sons, and fought in France in 1359. After that he served Edward as a messenger and diplomat, customs agent, clerk of the king’s works (where he oversaw construction and renovation of the king’s houses and properties), and Justice of the Peace. His literary career began in translating works such as the Romance of the Rose and Boethius’ Consolation of Philosophy into English, and his first original work, the Book of the Duchess, was written in 1369-70. He died in or around 1400; the date on his 16th-century tomb in Westminster Abbey is October 25, 1400.