Arthurian Romances, Tales, and Lyric Poetry: The Complete Works of Hartmann von Aue

by Hartmann von Aue, Frank J. Tobin (Translator), Kim Vivian (Translator)

Hartmann von Aue (c. 1170-1215) is universally recognized as the first medieval German poet to create world-class literature. He crafted German into a language of refined literary expression that paved the way for writers such as Gottfried von Strassburg, Walther von der Vogelweide, and Wolfram von Eschenbach. This volume presents the English reader for the first time with the complete works of Hartmann in readable, idiomatic English.



Hartmann's literary efforts cover all the major genres and themes of medieval courtly literature. His Arthurian romances, Erec and Iwein, which he modeled after Chretien de Troyes, introduced the Arthurian world to German audiences and set the standard for later German writers. His lyric poetry treats many aspects of courtly love, including fine examples of the crusading song. His dialogue on love delineates the theory of courtly relationships between the sexes and the quandary the lover experiences. His verse novellas Gregorius and Poor Heinrich transcend the world of mere human dimensions and examine the place and duties of the human in the divine scheme of things. Longfellow would later use Poor Heinrich in his Golden Legend.



Arthurian Romances, Tales, and Lyric Poetry is a major work destined to place Hartmann at the center of medieval courtly literature for English readers.

Genres: Poetry, Arthurian, Classics, Medieval, German Literature, Literature

344 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2001

About the author

Hartmann von Aue († vermutlich zwischen 1210 und 1220) gilt neben Wolfram von Eschenbach und Gottfried von Straßburg als der bedeutendste Epiker der sogenannten mittelhochdeutschen Klassik um 1200. Gemeinsam mit Heinrich von Veldeke steht er am Beginn des aus Frankreich übernommenen höfischen Romans. Von ihm sind die Verserzählungen Erec, Gregorius oder Der gute Sünder, Der arme Heinrich, Iwein, ein unter dem Namen Klagebüchlein bekanntes allegorisches Streitgespräch sowie einige Minne- und Kreuzlieder überliefert.

Reviews

[Lukerik · Rating 4 out of 5]

What we have here are the first King Arthur stories in German. And that’s why this book is a perennial bestseller.

Erec is an adaptional rather than a translation of Chrétien. The story is the same, but characters take longer to say or do things. There are also passages that Hartmann has invented himself. Some of these are well done. Others are frightfully boring and I fell asleep a few times. There are some problems with the poem. There’s something quite non-judgemental about Chrétien. If anything I came away with the impression that Erec was simply a moron. He’s certainly not presented as the out-and-out baddy of the Mabinogion’s version. Hartmann, without changing Erec’s behaviour, thinks the sun shines out of his arse. Chrétien seems content to play in this fantasy world he’s created. Hartmann seems intend on worsening the societal problems of the day.

But then about half-way through there’s a sea-change. It’s like Hartmann has suddenly worked out what he’s supposed to be doing. The second half of the poem is excellent. Iwein (the other King Arthur poem) starts in gear and is excellent all the way through.

The rest of the works here are a bit like Erec: the appallingly awful Lament, the mostly underwhelming Lyrics. On the other hand we have the fairy-tale like Gregorius and Poor Heinrich. Both well worth reading. Gregorius is the poem that inspired Thomas Mann’s Holy Sinner. Excellent use of mythic motif. Poor Heinrich is really quite disturbing. The dark side of sex and power and exploitation.

[Fraser Sherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is obviously a YMMV kind of book, but I liked it. I hadn't heard of Hartmann before but his reworking of Chretien's Arthurian stories "Erec" and "Iwein" are excellent. Two non-Arthurian tales and a lot of poetry fill out the book. "The Lament" is rather a slog as the knightly narrator argues with his heart for making him fall for someone who's friendzoned him (some whines, it seems, are eternal). Overall though, if this book is your kind of thing, it's worth reading.

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

A complete English translation of Hartmann von Aue's Middle High German works. Includes his two famous adaptions of Chrétien de Troyes' Arthurian romances Erec and Iwein. Also includes the romance Gregorius and Der arme Heinrich. These are followed by translation of Harmann's Minnesang. A very good translation of the first German Arthurian romances.