Anonymous; Eugene Mason — Aucassin & Nicolette

London, J.M. Dent & Sons, 1910. Fine Binding. A beautifully illustrated English translation of this medieval French story, handsomely bound in half calf by Hatchards. 1910 Edition, part of the 'Some Tales of Old Romance' series.This is a wonderful medieval French story, which was circulated anonymously in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. This work is an example of 'chantefable', which is a 'sung story' in which prose and verse are combined into one form. 'Aucassin and Nicolette' is known only from one surviving manuscript which was discovered by a medievalist in 1752. This story recounts the tale of Aucassin, the son of Count Garin of Beaucaire, who is in love with a Saracen maiden who was sold to his father and undergoes an adventure of torment and passion with her. Translated from the French by Eugene Mason. Illustrations include a frontispiece, five colour plates, and a range of in-text hand coloured illustrations, all by Maxwell Armfield. Collated and complete. Handsomely bound in half calf with cloth boards by Hatchards, with their binder's stamp to the verso of the front free-endpaper. Containing an ink inscription from a previous owner to one of the front free-endpapers, dated 1924. Handsomely bound in half calf with cloth boards by Hatchards, with their binder's stamp to the verso of the front free-endpaper. Externally, very smart, with just some very light shelf wear and a small amount of rubbing to the extremities. Containing an ink inscription from a previous owner to one of the front free-endpapers. Internally, front hinge is very lightly strained, though remaining binding is firm. Pages are bright and clean. Very Good Indeed . Ill.: Maxwell Armfield. Very Good Indeed .