John DuVal is Professor of English at the University of Arkansas.

David Staines is Associate Professor of English at the University of Ottawa. He received the Ph.D. degree from Harvard University, where he has also taught, introducing Canadian literature courses there. The author of many articles on medieval romance, medieval drama, and Arthurian literature of the Middle Ages and the nineteenth century, he has also edited Responses and Evaluations: Essays on Canada by E. K. Brown and The Canadian Imagination: Dimensions of a Literary Culture .

The true poetry of the most well-known French epic springs vividly to life here in an entirely new way. DuVal's unique translation captures the meter and assonance of the original at the same time that it conveys the breathless pace, as simple as it is complex, of one of the most moving tales of all time. One can hear—and feel—the singer of tales speaking to us today. I cannot wait to teach this text in the classroom." —Jody Enders, University of California, Santa Barbara

This translation is a substantial improvement over what is otherwise available. . . . The editorial remarks provide a healthy perspective on the religious chauvinism of the poem. . . . I appreciate having the Old French version included. The narrative is clear and engaging and it effectively captures the fast-paced intensity of the original. --Linda Marie Zaerr, Boise State University