The essays gathered together in this volume constitute one of the major classics in the study of the literature of the Middle Ages. Specifically, the book deals with the four major schools of Medieval narrative: the Teutonic Epic, the Icelandic Saga, the Chanson de Geste, and the Romance. But Ker's vast background in the field and his analytical and critical skills allow him to range over the whole of Medieval epic and romance with great intelligence.
The introduction quickly and vividly fills in the necessary background on the heroic age, the nature of epic and of romance, romantic mythology, and the three types of epic. The Teutonic Epic, the Icelandic Sagas, the Old French Epic, and Romance and the Old French Romantic Schools are the subjects of the chapters that follow. Within these, Ker discusses the tragic conception, resemblances of themes within each group, epic vs. ballad, fantasy and comedy in the sagas, competition of epic and romance in the 12th century, the contribution of Chrestien of Troyes, the blending of classical with Celtic influences, and dozens of other topics.