The Tristan Legend

Tristan und Isolde (Tristan and Iseult) remains one of the most popular medieval romances ever written. The tales originated in Germany, but bards in France and Britain composed their own versions of the story, a tale of adultery, betrayal, mistaken identity, and thwarted love. Eisner’s The Tristan Legend offers a study of the sources of the Tristan romance, tracing them through the various versions of the legend

A substantial introduction traces the Tristan and Isolde legend from the twelfth century to the present, emphasizing literary versions, but also surveying the legend's sources and its appearance in the visual arts, music and film. The nineteen essays are a mix of new, new English, revised, and 'classic'. It contains an extensive bibliography.

When two boys save an old man from robbers, they learn of a competition in Londinium to decide the next king of Britain. The elder, Kay, is determined to prove himself worthy as a knight or a king. The younger is Arthur, a farm boy through and through - until he sees the sword in the stone.

These essays examine the links among the four main areas where the Tristan legend flourished. It explores how the legend adapted to each new period and assimilated the new ideas and fashions of the societies for which the authors were writing, over a period of seven centuries.

Tristan is the nephew of King Mark of Cornwall and one of his finest knights. Tristan is sent to Ireland to bring home Mark's bride, Princess Isolde. While in Ireland, Tristan slays a dragon and wins Isolde's hand for his uncle. But, through a twist of fate, Tristan and Isolde fall in love on the journey back to Cornwall.