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The Romance of Tristan and Iseult
- Lady Ronit
- Feb 26
- 2 min read
Joseph Bédier, 1900
The Romance of Tristan and Iseult, written by Joseph Bédier, is one of the most beautiful and romantic books I have ever read. The story of forbidden Love, unattainable Love, which must be plucked from the tree like sin, resonates with me deeply. Though a legend from the medieval era, it still evokes tears and emotion. It is easy to find references to our contemporary reality within its pages.
No era in history has held a monopoly on broken hearts or claimed exclusive rights to tragic Love. How comforting it is to realize that our feelings and dilemmas existed centuries, even millennia ago.
The name Tristan carries sadness within it. Indeed, as one might guess, he is an exceptionally sorrowful figure. Yet eccentric, so to speak. The stories of this era are somewhat like movies such as Avatar or Star Wars. To see their message, their universal value, we must set aside the knight’s armor and special effects.
I lump all battle scenes in medieval works into one category—perhaps because I wasn’t born a boy. Now at least you know I’m not a transvestite. Nevertheless, despite the often lengthy battle descriptions, Bédier’s medieval adaptations are far from boring.
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