Literature of the Medieval World

The stories of the Medieval World were often ribald and joyous romps, filled with humor and the joy of life.  Still, they were not at all shy about depicting the hardships of life.  In the minds of the reader, the suffering of the heros gave their readers hope that suffering lived for God’s sake would bring them closer to God, but the humor and joy showed that one did not have to wait for heaven for a reward.  The stories of humble prostitutes, clever thieves, the heroism of the saints, and the nobility of trying to live as if God’s kingdom was in the here and now were uplifting tales of hope for those who could read, and for those who were read to.   

 The Literature of the Age 

THE DECAMERON​ Giovanni Boccaccio

PARZIVAL Wolfram von Eschenbach

LE ROMAN DE LA ROSE Guillaume de Lorris

THE LAIS Marie de France  

ERIC AND ENIDE Chrétien de Troyes

SHILAPPADIKARAM Prince Ilangô Adigal

MANIMEKHALAÏ Merchant-Prince Shattan

THE ARABIAN NIGHTSI prefer the translation by Muhsin Mahdi (Editor), Husain Haddawy (Translator)

The Music of the Age 

THE BLACK MADONNA Ensemble Unicorn

LOVE’S ILLUSION Anonymous 4

LUMINOUS SPIRIT Hildegard von Bingen by Rosa Lamoreaux

MUSIC OF THE TROUBADOURS Berenguier de Palou, Troubadour Anonymous, Giraut de Bornelh, Peire Cardenal and Raimon de Miraval

VOICES FROM MEDIEVAL FRANCE Heliotrope

CHANTS OF INDIA​ Ravi Shankar