Confessio Amantis: Volume 1

by John Gower, Andrew Galloway, Russell a Peck (Editor)

The complete text of John Gower's poem is a three-volume edition, including all Latin components-with translations-of this bilingual text and extensive glosses, bibliography and explanatory notes. Volume 1 contains the Prologue and Books 1 and 8, in effect the overall structure of Gower's poem.

Genres: Poetry, Medieval, Classics, Fiction, British Literature, 14th Century, School

346 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1390

About the author

John Gower (c. 1330 – October 1408) was an English poet, a contemporary of William Langland and a personal friend of Geoffrey Chaucer. He is remembered primarily for three major works, the Mirroir de l'Omme, Vox Clamantis, and Confessio Amantis, three long poems written in French, Latin, and English respectively, which are united by common moral and political themes.

Reviews

[Kim Zarins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gower rules! If you love couplets and twists on Ovidian tales, look no farther. If you are a non-academic reader, maybe start by reading individual stories side by side with Ovid (or Chaucer) to appreciate how he shifts meanings in the old stories. I don't normally rate medieval books that are normally read only by an academic audience, but this is Gower, so I'm pleased to promote him. He deserves a wider readership.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle English is hard, but I think Gower's writing makes it a little easier. Confessio Amantis is sort of fun, for all the struggle it takes to read it. I really enjoy the many stories it contains, and the dynamic ways Gower deals with the 7 sins. Today, we've boiled the sins down to simple concepts. The sins weren't like that in Gower's time, so it's refreshing to read about how meaningful and deep sins and virtues were for these people.

[riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

i was in SHOCK when amans revealed himself to be john gower. it was the highlight of this text, and i kept thinking of it as my spider-man no way home moment and hearing the shocked reaction sound that people had to that movie. i also enjoyed the tale of appolonius of tyr, that was one of the more interesting ones!

[Tanner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Striking, truly. This was the book that nearly converted a 20th century Brit./Irish literature student to a Medievalist. I did not take the time I needed to process the prologue, book 1, and book 8, but what I did understand was profoundly creative.

[Miles Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

UGH

[henna gibbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good take one the original story

[Izzy]

Fun at times but very longwinded

[Juno Hoar · Rating 3 out of 5]

obv not whole thing but ima track it as the whole thing

[Highlyeccentric · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've only read book 8 at this stage, and my grand conclusion is: I need to read more.

[Leslie Wexler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Might "moral" Gower really be refashioned into the kind of chivalric lover that the Confessio suggests? In a brilliant reversal in the end vision of the Confessio Amantis, what the reader at first thought was primarily the education and moral mental regulating of chivalric romance in light of christian charity turns on its heel and asks what creative beauty has in common with divine beauty.

Be warned - this work requires a holy/mythic juggernaut of energy to blast through. It's worth it in the end, however.

[Fr. Peter Mottola · Rating 4 out of 5]

This very helpfully glossed Middle English text is readable even for those who have no formal training in Middle English. The work itself contains myriad fascinating moral examples drawn from a wide variety of biblical and classical stories. I have found herein many great illustrations that can be used well in preaching, as the images are powerful and difficult to forget.

If you enjoyed the Consolation of Philosophy of Boethius, this may be right up your alley.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of my favorite medieval texts but the idealized description of the 3 estates model in book 1 is an interesting perspective.

[Kelly A.]

I CAN'T rate this, I CAN'T

[Grétar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quite long didactic poem. At least the prologue and the epilogue are essential read for any fourteenth century enthusiast:-)

[Abby Ang · Rating 3 out of 5]

ugh

[Wen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do I think? I think it's going to take awhile.

[Minna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dull. Read Ovid instead.