Master Richard's Bestiary of Love and Response

by Richard de Fournival, Jeanette Beer (Translator), Barry Moser (Illustrator)

This affordable reprint edition of the beautifully illustrated translation of Richard de Fournival's Bestiary of Love and the anonymous Response makes this medieval examination of the nature of love accessible to students and the general reader.

Genres: Medieval

83 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[cogitocattumbellumesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

- pouchins

- li wivre, qui est de tel nature que quant ele voit .j. homme nu, si en a paour et le fuit

- moi, qui sui li oeus qui de nului n’est couvés

- et ce n’est pas là chose étonnante, car celui qu’elle aime ne se tient pas à elle, mais c’est elle qui le tient, tandis que ce n’est pas elle qui tient celui qu’elle hait, mais c’est lui qui se tient à elle.

- li singes cauchiés

- parce que j’ai entendu de vous qu’on ne peut savoir qui est bon ou qui est méchant, il est nécessaire qu’on se protège de tous (slay)

[Lucile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Franchement cool
Ça m'a donné envie de lire le Physiologus

[Élodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

lu en 1h30, la conclusion est que RF est un gros kiffeur

[Mdge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tellement iconic cette Dame. Elle nous sort banger après banger🙂‍↕️

[Dominick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard's bestiary is a (presumably) satirical use of the bestiary form--a fanciful (in this case, anyway) enumeration of the traits and natures of various animals--as a sort of combination seduction attempt and critical commentary on the nature of women. Richard was apparently the first person to turn the bestiary to such a sexual purpose, which makes the document of inherent interest. Even more interesting, though, is the response by an unknown party, possibly the woman Richard was writing for, possibly another woman, possibly a man pretending to be a woman. Regardless, the response answers Richard's witty use of the bestiary model as a seduction tool by converting it to a seduction resistance tool, making a case instead for why the woman should not be foolish enough to fall for the man's line. It makes a remarkable--especially for the time--case for the equal, if not superior, merit of women over men. Richard's portion is mildly interesting; the response is hilarious (insofar as any medieval treatise can be hilarious).

[Abby Ang · Rating 4 out of 5]

These pictures are terrifying

[Elvy · Rating 4 out of 5]

plus sympa que les Fabliaux pour sûr, on ne va pas se plaindre
+ cocktail gagnant : dragon, licorne, sirène, Héra