Montalvo, Amadís de Gaula

Montalvo, Amadís de Gaula

Spain First edition, 1496; oldest extant edition, 1508.     Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo Amadís de Gaula   Amadis de Gaula (Amadis of Gaul) was the most famous and bravest knight in the entire Hispanic literary tradition, that is, until a crazy gentleman in a...
Maximilian et al., Theuerdank

Maximilian et al., Theuerdank

Germany First printed in 1517   Maximilian I et al.,   Theuerdank   Composed in rhymed couplets, the German epic Theuerdank narrates the adventures of the eponymous knight on his journey to meet his fiancée, Princess Ehrenreich. First printed in 1517 by...
Ariosto, Orlando Furioso

Ariosto, Orlando Furioso

Italy Composed: 1506-1532 CEPublished: 1516; 1521; 1532     Lodovico Ariosto, Orlando Furioso Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso is a continuation of the romance epic Orlando Innamorato, which was left unfinished at the ninth canto of Book Three when Boiardo died in...
Tullia d’Aragona, Il Meschino, altramente detto il Guerrino

Tullia d’Aragona, Il Meschino, altramente detto il Guerrino

Italy First published posthumously in 1560   Tullia d’Aragona, Il Meschino, altramente detto il Guerrino​ Tullia d’Aragona (ca. 1501- 1556) was a celebrated Italian courtesan, prolific author, and philosopher. She composed and experimented with the structure of...
Camões, The Lusiads

Camões, The Lusiads

Portugal First published: 1572     Luis Vaz de Camões, The Lusiads (Os Lusíadas)   Camões’ Os Lusíadas is not technically a New World epic, as it is sometimes called, since most of its action takes place in Africa and India. Yet it clearly exemplifies a...