The Faerie Queene
The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser is a significant work in the English literary canon, published by National Geographic Books on January 25, 1979. This reissue spans 1248 pages and is presented in English. The poem, dedicated to Elizabeth I, intertwines Arthurian romance with Italian Renaissance epic, celebrating the virtues of its characters through their quests. Each book follows a knight on a journey to embody a specific virtue, showcasing themes of morality and political allegory within a magical narrative.
Readers will encounter a rich tapestry of quests, including the Red Crosse Knight’s battle against a dragon and Sir Guyon’s struggle against temptation. The edition also features supplementary materials such as Spenser’s letter to Raleigh, commendatory verses, and a glossary, enhancing the reader’s understanding of the text. With its exploration of virtues and captivating atmosphere, The Faerie Queene continues to inspire poets and scholars alike, making it a notable work in the realms of poetry and medieval literature.
Official synopsis Publisher
‘Great Lady of the greatest Isle, whose light
Like Phoebus lampe throughout the world doth shine’
The Faerie Queene was one of the most influential poems in the English language. Dedicating his work to Elizabeth I, Spenser brilliantly united Arthurian romance and Italian renaissance epic to celebrate the glory of the Virgin Queen. Each book of the poem recounts the quest of a knight to achieve a virtue: the Red Crosse Knight of Holinesse, who must slay a dragon and free himself from the witch Duessa; Sir Guyon, Knight of Temperance, who escapes the Cave of Mammon and destroys Acrasia’s Bowre of Bliss; and the lady-knight Britomart’s search for her Sir Artegall, revealed to her in an enchanted mirror. Although composed as a moral and political allegory, The Faerie Queene’s magical atmosphere captivated the imaginations of later poets from Milton to the Victorians.
This edition includes the letter to Raleigh, in which Spenser declares his intentions for his poem, the commendatory verses by Spenser’s contemporaries and his dedicatory sonnets to the Elizabethan court, and is supplemented by a table of dates and a glossary
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
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