The Deeds of the Normans in Ireland - La Geste Des Engleis En Yrlande (The Song of Dermot and the Earl) (Hardcover)

The deeds of the Normans in Ireland is a primary source for the history of Ireland in the 12th century. Edited by G.H. Orpen in the 19th century, it is the only vernacular text to chronicle how Diarmait Mac Murchada brought Richard de Clare (Strongbow) to Ireland and how he was followed by Henry II of England. The text is fragmentary, but at nearly 3,500 lines it is by far the most substantial item written about Ireland in the Anglo-Norman dialect of medieval French. A few words of Irish are preserved in it, and it offers clues to pronunciation in Ireland c.1200. The text is also a valuable source for the history of Irish place names and personal names. It contains over 200 proper names, with many interesting phonetic variations. This new critical edition of the text includes a facing translation, history and description of the manuscript, study of the anonymous author, analysis of the language, textual and historical notes, maps, genealogical table, glossary and index of proper names.