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The Faerie Queene

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( 17,188 ratings, 576 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser is an allegorical epic poem that explores themes of virtue and moral chivalry. The narrative follows distinct quests, each undertaken by knights representing various virtues such as holiness, temperance, and courtesy, set in a richly imagined faerie land. Through symbolic encounters and intricate adventures, Spenser crafts a tale that reflects the struggles and triumphs of personal growth and ethical ideals.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you have an appreciation for epic poetry with rich allegorical stories. It offers intricate tales of chivalry, virtue, and mythical creatures woven into an elaborate tapestry of Elizabethan ideals and Renaissance aesthetics. It's a captivating choice for those interested in exploring both fantastical adventures and historical cultural narratives.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Combines medieval romance and renaissance epic to expound the glory of the Virgin Queen. This title recounts the quests of knights including Sir Guyon, Knight of Constance, who resists temptation, and Artegall, Knight of Justice, whose story alludes to the execution of Mary Queen of Scots.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Spenser's masterpiece, The Faerie Queene, is among the most influential poems in the English language. It was the first epic in English and established the possibilities of heroic poetry in the English tradition.

The author's intention was to rival, or surpass, the epic romances of the Italian poets Ariosto and Tasso through the "darke conceit" of this poem, which unites the medieval romance and Renaissance epic.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser has been praised for its rich allegory and elaborate poetic structure, offering a vivid portrayal of chivalric virtues. Critics admire its intricate interweaving of mythology and moral tales, creating a complex yet rewarding experience. Some highlight its historical and political undertones, while others appreciate its influence on English literature.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780140422078

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 29 June 1978

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Edited by C O'Donnell
  • Edited by Thomas Roche

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 52.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 853g

Pages: 1248

About the Author

Edmund Spenser (1552-99) is best known for The Faerie Queene, dedicated to Elizabeth I, and his sonnet sequence Amoretti and Epithalamion dedicated to his wife Elizabeth Boyle. Secretary to the Lord Deputy to Ireland, Spenser moved there in 1580 and remained there until near the end of his life, when he fled the Tyrone Rebellion in 1598. T.P. Roche is Professor of English at Princeton University and author of many books on Renaissance literature.

Also by Edmund Spenser

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  • The Faerie Queene, Book One
    Framed in Spenser's distinctive, opulent stanza and in some of the trappings of epic, Book One of Spenser's The Faerie Queene consists of a chivalric romance that has been made to a typical recipeβ€”fierce warres and faithfull lovesβ€”but that has been Christianised in both overt and subtle ways. The physical and moral wanderings of the Redcrosse Knight dramatise his effort...
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  • Edmund Spenser's Poetry
    Edmund Spenser's Poetry is now available in a revised and updated Norton Critical Edition. This revised and enlarged Fourth Edition expands and improves on the strengths of the previous three editions. All selections are based on early and established texts, fully glossed, and carefully annotated. An Editor's Note follows each section. This new edition addresses the shifts in scholarly and...
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