Summary
Summary of The Book of Romance
Key ideas
Key idea 1
Old hero tales meet together
Andrew Lang gathers the hero tales of medieval Europe into a collection for young readers. A Scottish writer who collected folk tales, myths and legends, he retells these stories in clear prose. Knights, kings, outlaws and quests share the same pages.
The court of King Arthur, the fighters of Charlemagne and the outlaws of English greenwood tradition come from tales shaped across many centuries. Bringing them together lets their shared concerns emerge, even when their heroes live in very different worlds.
Key idea 2
Honour gives adventure its stakes
Start free to read
Key idea 3
Arthur builds a fellowship on trust
Start free to read
Key idea 4
Roland faces the tests of loyalty
Start free to read
Key idea 5
Robin Hood stands for outlaw justice
Start free to read
Key idea 6
Different heroes test the same values
Start free to read
The rest of the summary, written and spoken, and the whole book: free to start.
Read the rest freeWho it’s for
For readers who love adventure, chivalry and old tales, and anyone who wants a gentle way into medieval legends of knights, kings, outlaws and quests.
What this book is
The Book of Romance gathers the old hero tales of medieval Europe into one volume for young readers. It was edited by Andrew Lang, a Scottish writer who spent his life collecting folk tales, myths and legends. He put together his coloured fairy books around the same period, and this volume belongs to that same work of gathering.
Here the stories of knights, kings, outlaws and quests are told again in clear prose. You meet the court of King Arthur, the loyal fighters of Charlemagne and the outlaws of English greenwood tradition. These tales were first sung and written by poets across many centuries. In this book they sit side by side, so you can see what they share. Let us begin with the world that produced them.
In this summary
- 1Romance means tales of knights and questsFree
- 2Arthur gathers knights at the Round Table
- 3Roland shows loyalty in Charlemagne's wars
- 4Robin Hood brings outlaw justice to England
Key point 1 of 4
Romance means tales of knights and quests
In the Middle Ages, a romance was a story told in the common tongue of a country rather than in Latin. The word came from the Romance languages, such as French. Over time it came to mean a tale of knights, ladies, wonders and daring deeds.
These stories were meant to be heard. Minstrels sang them in halls, and monks and poets wrote them down in long verse and later in prose. Each telling changed a little, so no single author owns any of these legends. That is one reason a collector like Lang could shape them anew.
The heroes of romance follow a code of honour. They keep their word, defend the weak, serve a lord and fight for what is right. They also fail, quarrel and suffer, which makes them more than painted figures. As you read the book, watch how each tale asks the same question in a new place. What does a good person owe to loyalty, to love and to God?
That’s 1 of 4 key points.
The rest of the summary, written and spoken, and the whole book: free to start.
- Nothing to pay today · Renews every year
- We email you before you pay
- Cancel online in two clicks
Check yourself
What holds Arthur's fellowship and kingdom together?
Right. “A kingdom is built on trust, and trust can be strained.”Not quite. “A kingdom is built on trust, and trust can be strained.”
How does Oliver differ from his friend Roland?
Right. “His close friend Oliver is wiser and more careful.”Not quite. “His close friend Oliver is wiser and more careful.”
What connects Robin Hood with Arthur and Roland?
Right. “Each tale gives a community a hero who stands for fairness and courage.”Not quite. “Each tale gives a community a hero who stands for fairness and courage.”
Questions about The Book of Romance
What is The Book of Romance about?
It retells medieval legends in plain prose, including the tales of King Arthur and his knights, Roland and Charlemagne, and Robin Hood. It focuses on chivalry, quests, loyalty and adventure.
Who wrote The Book of Romance?
Andrew Lang edited it. He was a Scottish folklorist who collected and retold myths and fairy tales. The old legends themselves came from many unnamed medieval poets and storytellers.
What does romance mean in this book?
It does not mean a love story only. In medieval usage, a romance was a tale of knights, quests and wonders, first told in the everyday language of a country.
Is The Book of Romance a true story?
No. The tales are legends. They may borrow from real people or events, such as the wars of Charlemagne, but they grew through centuries of retelling and added much that is imagined.
Is The Book of Romance hard to read?
No. It was prepared for younger readers, and the stories are told in clear steps. The adventures are easy to follow.
