Have you read...?
 

I was wondering if any of you have read (I think it's called) Sir Galahad and the Green Knight? Or the title is something along that realm.
I know that it is another Tolkien book, but I saw it in the history section of Borders. I was wondering if it's good. I know it's not related to Middle Earth, but I am still interested.

You may mean Sir Gawaine and the Green Knight? I believe Tolkien did a translation of this with notes. It is a romantic legend that was written about 1370 and is considered to be the best of all the English metrical romances. We don't know who wrote it, but we do know that he was a contemporary of Chaucer. It was written in the West Midland dialect (I believe this is the area where Tolkien actually grew up.) The poem tells how Sir Gawaine faced a series of heroic and chivalric temptations. By the way, this is the same Sir Gawaine who is in the tales of King Arthur. As far as medieval literature goes, it is neat because the poem combines chivalric ideas with some very human and down-to-earth touches. This poem,along with Chaucer's tales, are considered to be the best of medieval storytelling. (Sorry, you got the teacher in me going on this one!) You might enjoy it very much, but don't expect a modern tale. This is the type of work Tolkien actally did as an academic. sharon, the 7th age hobbit

I read Sir Gawain in college a few years ago. This is when I fell in love with the "Heroic Epic". I also love "Beowulf." When I read that LotR was written in a similar style, I knew that I had to read it.

yes, sir gawain and the green knight is a good read. more like the old heroic early english epic stories. it's always enjoyable to read someone who uses english well, and tolkien certainly does that!

It was written by the Pearl Poet.

Sweet! Where can I get a copy of this book? Would any decent library have it? Or should I try to order it online?

~Airetalathwen

I know Barnes & Noble has it, so you could go to its website (BarnesandNoble.com) and order it there. Or you could borrow Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court and read it from there.

[ April 27, 2002: Message edited by: dragongirlG ]

Thank you.
I am glad I brought out the teacher in you, Child of the 7th Age, because you gave me an excellent description. I think I shall buy it now. It sounds like something that I will enjoy.
Sorry I didn't get the name correct... I couldn't remember exactly what it was called because I only saw it once on the shelves.

Wow I had no idea it was still in print, thankyou. I too will be off to the bookshops. I loved Beowulf and have Geoffrey of Monmouth's original story of Arthur as well as Morte d'Arthur etc. Different kind of reading to Tolkien but highly recommendable. I did Chaucer back in my A level days and found it tricky to read but funny anyway. The Wife of Bath was my favourite.

I saw the entire text on the internet not that long ago, but I wasn't able to find the site again. I'll keep looknig though. I didn't read it though, with a glimpse I saw it was too old english for me to be easy with.