Orlando Furioso (Oxford World's Classics)

Description

The only unabridged prose translation of Ariosto's Orlando Furioso--a witty parody of the chivalric legends of Charlemagne and the Saracen invasion of France--this version faithfully recaptures the entire narrative and the subtle meanings behind it.

Reviews

Rating: 4 / 5
Date: 2010-06-15
Summary: "read it: orlando furioso"

Wow! This is one of the great works of the Italian Renaissance - and it is great. For modern tastes there are significant "down" passages where we do not quite appreciate the extensive exposition that our forebearers valued, however the abundant action and forward-and-backward narratives are completely engaging. There is a very sly humor running through all that reminds one of Ovid. It's probably too long for modern tastes, but its "isolate flecks," often extended over many pages, are truly as charming as anything ever written. At the end, I don't know what to make of it -- but then again, I haven't quite figured out life yet either.

It's a cut below the Odyssey, the Illiad -- it may even be below L'morte D'Artur -- but it's still much better than most things written after Shakespeare's death.

It's undervalued.

Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2010-02-20
Summary: "Marvelous epic poem"

This work by Ariosto is one of the greatest classics in Medieval literature. It has everything about knights, beautiful damsels, courage, honor, love... and of course, Orlando's madness. This translation is very lively, and there is rarely a dull moment (except when Ariosto fawns over his lord's family, which happens occasionally, but it's easy to pass through, and definitely doesn't make the story any less enjoyable). Highly recommended for anyone who has even just a slight fascination with knightly heroes.