Yvain, or the Knight With the Lion

Completed in the year 1181, Yvain, Or the Knight of the Lion is an epic poem by Chrétian De Troyes that tells the story of Yvain, one of King Arthur’s knights, and the many great deeds he performs as he attempts to earn the love of the Lady Laudine. One of the founding stories of the Arthurian legend, Yvain paints a vivid picture of the knightly code of chivalry during the Middle Ages. Its high adventure and intense love story set the tone for the romantic literature that followed.

A poet and wandering entertainer, De Troyes served in more than one noble house, including that of Marie, Countess of Champagne, daughter of Elinor of Aquitaine. In 1181 De Troyes published two of his famous additions to Arthurian legend, Yvain and Lancelot, Knight of the Cart, which introduced these legendary characters to readers. De Troyes also created the story of Perceval and the Holy Grail. Yvain is widely considered his finest work; its structure and style set the foundations for the later development of the novel as a literary form. The ebook version of the 2019 translation by A.