The Epic of The Cid

Harney's translation and literary panorama will become a standard reference for students and scholars throughout the English-speaking world for decades to come. Harney's profound knowledge of the cultural and creative ferment that surrounded the birth of this masterpiece is unchallenged. . . . The complementary medieval texts that Harney assembles--all the bright fragments that make up this mosaic of a ferocious warrior, clan chieftain, family man, and hero—have never before been brought together in one place with reliable translations from the Arabic, Latin, and Spanish. --George Greenia, College of William & Mary

Many a student of medieval history or romance literature have had the pleasure of reading El Cid, but few have been given the opportunity to engage other sources which complement and, at times, contradict the story found in this epic. Michael Harney, an expert in medieval and Renaissance Spanish literature, seeks to rectify such an imbalance with a volume comprising an excellent prose translation of not only the lay of El Cid but also excerpts taken from seven additional texts redacted from as early as the late eleventh century to as late as the early sixteenth century. Harney has succeeded in crafting remarkably engaging and accessible prose translations of the aforementioned romance works--more so than any other translations which this reviewer has encountered to date. Thanks to Harney's gift for translation, this volume will also allow the reader to better understand how the included stories could have riveted their premodern audiences. --Comitatus

A great translation. Harney's prose translation would be a great source for undergraduate courses, especially those on the Middle Ages or Spain. The positive features of Harney's translation are clear, precise translations of key terms and words, making it easier to follow the verse translations; a glossary of key terms; and a set of related texts to the El Cid Epic. Harney's introduction in addition to these related texts provides students with a fuller view of the historical Cid, not the one-dimensional character of the Epic. Harney also does a good job of framing the context of the Cid story. Highly recommended for undergraduate courses. --John Hunt, Department of History, Utah Valley University