{"product_id":"song-of-roland","title":"Song of Roland","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eCharles the king, our emperor great, \u003cbr\u003eHas been a full seven years in Spain.\u003cbr\u003eAs far as the sea he conquered this haughty land.\u003cbr\u003eNot a single castle remains standing in his path\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eCharlemagne (768-814) was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 800 and presided over a huge empire. He frequently appears in literature as a great warlord and pious crusading figure. In 778, the rearguard of Charlemagne's retreating army was ambushed and defeated at the battle of Roncevaux. This became the inspiration for songs and poems celebrating deeds of valour in the face of overwhelming odds, through the character of Charlemagne's nephew (the imaginary) Roland. \u003cem\u003eThe Song of Roland\u003c\/em\u003e is the most stirring and moving epic poem of the European Middle Ages, offering a particularly heady mixture of history, legend, and poetry. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003ePresented here in a lively and idiomatic new translation, the Song of Roland offers fascinating insights into medieval ideas about heroism, manhood, religion, race, and nationhood which were foundational for modern European culture. \u003cem\u003eThe Song of Roland\u003c\/em\u003e is accompanied here by two other medieval French epics about Charlemagne, both of which show him to be a far more equivocal figure than that portrayed by the \u003cem\u003eRoland: the Occitan Daurel and Beton\u003c\/em\u003e, in which he is a corrupt and avaricious monarch; and the \u003cem\u003eJourney of Charlemagne to Jerusalem and Constantinople\u003c\/em\u003e, which gives the heroes of the \u003cem\u003eRoland\u003c\/em\u003e a comic makeover. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eABOUT THE SERIES: \u003c\/strong\u003e For over 100 years \u003cem\u003eOxford World's Classics\u003c\/em\u003e has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.","brand":"Karen Pratt, Simon Gaunt, Simon Gaunt, Karen Pratt","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":46348069994732,"sku":"9780199655540","price":12.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0684\/1791\/3068\/files\/9780199655540.jpg?v=1744109547","url":"https:\/\/intl.allstora.com\/products\/song-of-roland","provider":"Allstora","version":"1.0","type":"link"}