Andreas Capellanus wrote De Amore, his famous Latin treatise on marriage, around 1186. Enhanced by theological, medical and legal wisdom, his book of the art of loving greatly influenced the literature of courtly love during the Middle Ages. This monolingual textbook edition provides a modern German translation in addition to explanatory notes on the sources and a language commentary to aid comprehension of particular passages and the difficulties of translation. A bibliography and a postscript that sets the work in its literary context round off this new translation. In terms of the history of human thought and literature, this famous text is of great relevance to students, literary scholars and medievalists alike, and serves as the basis for an understanding of courtly love poetry during the Middle Ages.
Andreas Capellanus Book order (chronological)
Andreas Capellanus, author of a treatise often known as The Art of Courtly Love, offers a sophisticated, perhaps cynical, perspective on medieval romance. Written at the request of Marie de Champagne for a young pupil, his work delves into the intricacies of love, defining its nature, illustrating romantic interactions across social classes, and recounting tales from actual courts. This influential text serves as a valuable, albeit debated, record of the attitudes and practices foundational to Western literary traditions, with modern scholars often interpreting it as a subtle critique of aristocratic superficiality.
Bibliothek der Mittellateinischen Literatur - 1: Über die Liebe / De amore
Ein Lehrbuch des Mittelalters über Sexualität, Erotik und die Beziehungen der Geschlechter
- 276 pages
- 10 hours of reading