By Gervase of Melkley
Edited and translated by Traugott Lawler
Harvard University Press
ISBN: 9780674290969
Gervase of Melkley promises that “This little book is for beginners!”—yet his medieval guide to poetry is surprisingly inventive. Instead of repeating standard rules, he introduces a fresh method for composing verse, leading readers from clear expression to metaphor and irony.
Excerpt:
Gervase wrote at a time when, in both France and England, the writing of poetry and the teaching of poetry in the schools were at a high-water mark. Of the two poems he admired (and quotes) most, Bernard Silvester’s Cosmographia appeared in 1150 and his teacher John of Hauville’s Architrenius in 1184. Alan of Lille, whom he also cities and surely also admired, flourished in the second half of the twelfth century, and died 1202. Though Gervase’s own output was small, he clearly thinks of himself as belonging to this select company of modern poets. At 2.46, in a remarkably personal moment, he seems to express his desire to write poetry as good as Bernard Silvester’s.
Who is this book for?
Written in the early 13th century, The Art of Making Verses reads very much like a manual for students, offering technical explanations alongside examples of poetry, often drawn from ancient authors. The editor notes that Gervase, an English writer less well known than his peers, presents a distinctive approach to composing verse.
This book provides the text and translation of the work. While it may feel too much like a school textbook for wider audiences, it will still appeal to those interested in medieval poetry and how it was crafted.
“Traugott Lawler has provided all the tools necessary for studying Gervase of Melkley’s fascinating but heretofore somewhat neglected treatise: an expertly edited Latin text; a faithful yet readable translation; and up-to-date, thorough, and illuminating commentary. Anyone interested in medieval rhetoric and poetics will want to own this book, which has the added merit of a price that should fit any budget.” ~ review by Martin Camargo in The Medieval Review
The Translator
Traugott Lawler is a professor emeritus of English at Yale University and well known for his works on William Langland and medieval poetry in England. He also edited and translated a similar work for the Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library, John of Garland’s Parisiana poetria.
The Art of Making Verses
By Gervase of Melkley
Edited and translated by Traugott Lawler
Harvard University Press
ISBN: 9780674290969
Gervase of Melkley promises that “This little book is for beginners!”—yet his medieval guide to poetry is surprisingly inventive. Instead of repeating standard rules, he introduces a fresh method for composing verse, leading readers from clear expression to metaphor and irony.
Excerpt:
Gervase wrote at a time when, in both France and England, the writing of poetry and the teaching of poetry in the schools were at a high-water mark. Of the two poems he admired (and quotes) most, Bernard Silvester’s Cosmographia appeared in 1150 and his teacher John of Hauville’s Architrenius in 1184. Alan of Lille, whom he also cities and surely also admired, flourished in the second half of the twelfth century, and died 1202. Though Gervase’s own output was small, he clearly thinks of himself as belonging to this select company of modern poets. At 2.46, in a remarkably personal moment, he seems to express his desire to write poetry as good as Bernard Silvester’s.
Who is this book for?
Written in the early 13th century, The Art of Making Verses reads very much like a manual for students, offering technical explanations alongside examples of poetry, often drawn from ancient authors. The editor notes that Gervase, an English writer less well known than his peers, presents a distinctive approach to composing verse.
This book provides the text and translation of the work. While it may feel too much like a school textbook for wider audiences, it will still appeal to those interested in medieval poetry and how it was crafted.
“Traugott Lawler has provided all the tools necessary for studying Gervase of Melkley’s fascinating but heretofore somewhat neglected treatise: an expertly edited Latin text; a faithful yet readable translation; and up-to-date, thorough, and illuminating commentary. Anyone interested in medieval rhetoric and poetics will want to own this book, which has the added merit of a price that should fit any budget.” ~ review by Martin Camargo in The Medieval Review
The Translator
Traugott Lawler is a professor emeritus of English at Yale University and well known for his works on William Langland and medieval poetry in England. He also edited and translated a similar work for the Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library, John of Garland’s Parisiana poetria.
You can learn more about this book from the publisher’s website.
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