The Song of Roland

By Dorothy L. Sayers (Translator)

Part of the Penguin Classics series

A heroic stand in a Pyrenean pass becomes a battle of faith and valor.

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208 pages

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Bookroo's summary

In a remote Pyrenean pass, Charlemagne's army faces a deadly ambush. Roland, the valiant nephew, leads his men against overwhelming odds. As the clash unfolds, it symbolizes a grand struggle between faiths. Will Roland's defiance echo through history, or will his sacrifice be in vain? Discover the epic tale of honor and valor in a world where every battle is a test of belief.

From the publisher

On 15 August 778, Charlemagne’s army was returning from a successful expedition against Saracen Spain when its rearguard was ambushed in a remote Pyrenean pass. Out of this skirmish arose a stirring tale of war, which was recorded in the oldest extant epic poem in French. The Song of Roland, written by an unknown poet, tells of Charlemagne’s warrior nephew, Lord of the Breton Marches, who valiantly leads his men into battle against the Saracens, but dies in the massacre, defiant to the end. In majestic verses, the battle becomes a symbolic struggle between Christianity and paganism, while Roland’s last stand is the ultimate expression of honour and feudal values of twelfth-century France. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

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