This is the first translation into English of the Old French Chanson d'Antioche, a text which has long intrigued historians and literary scholars. Uniquely among epic poems, it follows closely a well-documented historical event - the First Crusade - and appears to include substantial and genuine historical content. The introduction assesses the history and status of the text, while the translation is provided with extensive annotation and with appendices on a different manuscript tradition and on real and fictional characters. The work provides a whole new perspective on crusading in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.

Susan B. Edgington is an Honorary Research Fellow at Queen Mary, University of London, UK. Carol Sweetenham is an Associate Research Fellow at the University of Warwick, UK

Contents: Preface; Part I Introduction: The textual history of the Chanson d'Antioche; The Chanson d'Antioche as a historical source; The Chanson d'Antioche as literary text; Principles of translation; Summary. Part II Translation. Part III Appendices; Bibliography; Index.