About the book
Portugal enjoyed one of the richest and most sophisticated cultures of the Middle Ages, in part because of its vibrant secular literature. One popular literary genre of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries was the cantigas de amigo, love songs in which male poets wrote from a female perspective. More than five hundred of these mysterious poems depicting a young girl’s love for an absent lover survive today. Until now, however, they have remained inaccessible except to a small circle of scholars. In her translation of nearly one hundred representative examples of the cantigas de amigo, Barbara Hughes Fowler recovers the beauty of these poems for the modern reader. Her accurate and elegant renderings capture the charming spontaneity of the lyrics and show them to be a uniquely appealing form of medieval literature. (excerpt of one of the poems) Lovely mother, I saw my friend but did not speak with him and so I lost him, but now I'm dying of love for him. I did not speak because of my disdain; I'm dying, mother, for love of him.
Editions of Songs of a Friend
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807822715
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780807845745
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890875815
- EBook
- ISBN 9780807876008
Read an Excerpt
Portugal enjoyed one of the richest and most sophisticated cultures of the Middle Ages, in part because of its vibrant secular literature. One popular literary genre of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries was the cantigas de amigo, love songs in which male poets wrote from a female perspective. More than five hundred of these mysterious poems depicting a young girl’s love for an absent lover survive today. Until now, however, they have remained inaccessible except to a small circle of scholars. In her translation of nearly one hundred representative examples of the cantigas de amigo, Barbara Hughes Fowler recovers the beauty of these poems for the modern reader. Her accurate and elegant renderings capture the charming spontaneity of the lyrics and show them to be a uniquely appealing form of medieval literature. (excerpt of one of the poems) Lovely mother, I saw my friend but did not speak with him and so I lost him, but now I'm dying of love for him. I did not speak because of my disdain; I'm dying, mother, for love of him.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Songs of a Friend about?
Portugal enjoyed one of the richest and most sophisticated cultures of the Middle Ages, in part because of its vibrant secular literature. One popular literary genre of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries was the cantigas de amigo, love songs in which male poets wrote from a female perspective. More than five hundred of these mysterious poems depicting a young girl’s love for an absent lover survive today. Until now, however, they have remained inaccessible except to a small circle of scholars. In her translation of nearly one hundred representative examples of the cantigas de amigo, Barbara Hughes Fowler recovers the beauty of these poems for the modern reader. Her accurate and elegant renderings capture the charming spontaneity of the lyrics and show them to be a uniquely appealing form of medieval literature. (excerpt of one of the poems) Lovely mother, I saw my friend but did not speak with him and so I lost him, but now I'm dying of love for him. I did not speak because of my disdain; I'm dying, mother, for love of him.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Songs of a Friend?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Literature: history and criticism
Where can I read a sample of Songs of a Friend?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807822715
How long is Songs of a Friend and how many pages does it have?
Songs of a Friend has 136 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Songs of a Friend?
The University of North Carolina Press
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Songs of a Friend is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807822715) and paperback(ISBN 9780807845745) and ebook(ISBN 9798890875815) and ebook(ISBN 9780807876008)
Where can I buy Songs of a Friend online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy Songs of a Friend?