[London]: Chiswick Press, 1903. Hardcover. One of 200 copies. From the colophon: "The unknown 'Chanson de Geste' here transcribed belongs to the cycle of William Of Orange. There has been no attempt to edit the text, or even to correct not a few very obvious minor errors. The two reproductions are of the same size as the original manuscript."

The Chanson de Guillaume, also called Chançun de Willame (English: "Song of William"), is a chanson de geste from the first half of the twelfth-century (c.1140, although the first half of the poem may date from as early as the eleventh century. Along with The Song of Roland and Gormont et Isembart, it is considered one of three chansons de geste whose composition incontestably dates from before 1150. The work is generally considered to have two distinct halves: the first tells of Guillaume of Orange, his nephew Vivien and the latter's young brother Gui and their various battles with Saracens at L'Archamp; in the second half of the poem Guillaume is aided by Rainouard, a giant. [Wikipedia]

Bound in blue paper boards with cream linen spine with paper title label. Boards have fading along with light wear and bumping. The spine is faded with some light stains and wear along edges. Label is chipped and wrinkled. Offsetting to front and rear free endpapers. Some splitting to a few gutters not affecting the tightness of the text block. Most of the pages are unopened. A nice copy in very good condition. Octavo. Not continuously paginated. PRI/120822. Very Good.

Item #36160

Price: $500.00