The Romance of Tristan (Penguin Classics)

Little is known of Beroul except that he lived during the 12th century and composed this epic poem about the illicit and tragic passion of Tristan and Yseult. Juxtaposing the traditional jongleur style with simple and sometimes brutal drama, readers become unconsciously sympathetic to the means by which the characters challenge destiny in the name of love. This translation by Alan S. Fedrick captures the flavor, humor and tragedy of The Romance of Tristan in a manner fully appreciable to the modern reader.