Thomas of Britain (also known as Thomas of England) was a poet of the 12th century. He is known for his Old French poem Tristan, a version of the Tristan and Iseult legend that exists only in eight fragments, amounting to around 3,300 lines of verse, mostly from the latter part of the story. It is calculated that this represents about one sixth of the original.
Because Thomas's Tristan has an "obvious dependence" on Wace's Roman de Brut, which was completed by 1155,[1] it is likely that Thomas wrote it after 1155, and probably by 1160, possibly for Eleanor of Aquitaine,[2] since the work suggests close ties with the court of Henry II. Beyond this, the identity of the author is obscure. It has been speculated that he is to be identified with the "Thomas" who wrote the Romance of Horn, but this is unsupported.[2]Tristan has similarities to the Tristan story Chevrefoil by Marie de France, but either author could have borrowed from the other, or both from a third source.[3]
Although Thomas's own text is fragmentary, later adaptations of his work make it possible to reconstruct what is missing:
Gottfried von Strassburg's Tristan (Middle High German), left incomplete c. 1210, though fortuitously it covers all those parts of Thomas's work which are lost. Gottfried expanded the story by about a third, while nonetheless remaining fairly faithful to Thomas.
Brother Robert's Old NorseTristrams saga ok Ísöndar (Saga of Tristram and Isond), written in 1226 (prose), condensing the story.
The Middle English Sir Tristrem (verse, late 13th Century), a much abbreviated retelling.
The Italian La Tavola Ritonda (prose, 14th century).
Thomas' version is the earliest known representative of the "courtly branch" of the legend, to which Gottfried's also belongs. This branch differs from the "common" or "primitive" versions of Béroul and Eilhart von Oberge, in that greater emphasis is placed on pleasing the sensibilities and expectations of a courtly audience. Some scholars have theorized an "Ur-Tristan", an original French version that inspired all later accounts. Joseph Bédier attempted to reconstruct this original from the evidence provided by the later versions.
Thomas, Les fragments du Roman de Tristan, ed. Bartina H. Wind, Paris/Geneva 1960.
Gottfried von Strassburg, Tristan, with the suriviving fragments of the Tristran of Thomas, translated A.T. Hatto, Penguin, 1960.
The Saga of Tristram and Ísönd, translated with an introduction by Paul Schach, University of Nebraska Press 1973.
External linksedit
Tristan of Thomas of Britain in French Wikisource.
Complete text of three fragments
Text of three fragments and modern French translation
The Carlisle Fragment of Thomas's Tristan, translated J. Shoaf
Text of 6 fragments
The Romance of Tristan & Iseult Drawn from the best French Sources and Retold by J. Bédier Rendered into English by H. Belloc at Project Gutenberg.
November 02, 2023
thomas, britain, also, known, thomas, england, poet, 12th, century, known, french, poem, tristan, version, tristan, iseult, legend, that, exists, only, eight, fragments, amounting, around, lines, verse, mostly, from, latter, part, story, calculated, that, this. Thomas of Britain also known as Thomas of England was a poet of the 12th century He is known for his Old French poem Tristan a version of the Tristan and Iseult legend that exists only in eight fragments amounting to around 3 300 lines of verse mostly from the latter part of the story It is calculated that this represents about one sixth of the original Contents 1 Works 2 See also 3 References 4 Editions and translations 5 External linksWorks editBecause Thomas s Tristan has an obvious dependence on Wace s Roman de Brut which was completed by 1155 1 it is likely that Thomas wrote it after 1155 and probably by 1160 possibly for Eleanor of Aquitaine 2 since the work suggests close ties with the court of Henry II Beyond this the identity of the author is obscure It has been speculated that he is to be identified with the Thomas who wrote the Romance of Horn but this is unsupported 2 Tristan has similarities to the Tristan story Chevrefoil by Marie de France but either author could have borrowed from the other or both from a third source 3 Although Thomas s own text is fragmentary later adaptations of his work make it possible to reconstruct what is missing Gottfried von Strassburg s Tristan Middle High German left incomplete c 1210 though fortuitously it covers all those parts of Thomas s work which are lost Gottfried expanded the story by about a third while nonetheless remaining fairly faithful to Thomas Brother Robert s Old Norse Tristrams saga ok Isondar Saga of Tristram and Isond written in 1226 prose condensing the story The Middle English Sir Tristrem verse late 13th Century a much abbreviated retelling The Italian La Tavola Ritonda prose 14th century Thomas version is the earliest known representative of the courtly branch of the legend to which Gottfried s also belongs This branch differs from the common or primitive versions of Beroul and Eilhart von Oberge in that greater emphasis is placed on pleasing the sensibilities and expectations of a courtly audience Some scholars have theorized an Ur Tristan an original French version that inspired all later accounts Joseph Bedier attempted to reconstruct this original from the evidence provided by the later versions See also edit nbsp Poetry portalAnglo Norman literatureReferences edit Legge M Dominica Anglo Norman Literature and its Background London Oxford University Press 1963 p 46 a b Legge p 49 Legge p 46Editions and translations editThomas Les fragments du Roman de Tristan ed Bartina H Wind Paris Geneva 1960 Gottfried von Strassburg Tristan with the suriviving fragments of the Tristran of Thomas translated A T Hatto Penguin 1960 The Saga of Tristram and Isond translated with an introduction by Paul Schach University of Nebraska Press 1973 External links editTristan of Thomas of Britain in French Wikisource Complete text of three fragments Text of three fragments and modern French translation The Carlisle Fragment of Thomas s Tristan translated J Shoaf Text of 6 fragments The Romance of Tristan amp Iseult Drawn from the best French Sources and Retold by J Bedier Rendered into English by H Belloc at Project Gutenberg Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas of Britain amp oldid 1148607223, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
