French Literature Reviews - 2026
Servane Rayne-Michel, La Table Ronde et les deux cités.
Medieval and Renaissance Studies
Bibliographic reference: Servane Rayne-Michel, La Table Ronde et les deux cités, Honoré Champion, collection "Nouvelle Bibliothèque du Moyen Âge", 2016. EAN13: 9782745330734.
La Table Ronde et les deux cités. Pour une lecture augustinienne des cycles arthuriens en prose du XIIIe siècle
734 pages, 110 EUR
Publisher's overview:
In what ways does the Round Table draw upon Saint Augustine's City of God? Critics have frequently noted the eschatological dimension of Arthurian history and emphasized the boldness of anchoring a secular narrative within the framework of the Gospels. Yet Augustine's work serves as a powerful hermeneutic model: uniting sacred and secular history within a single narrative that reveals the workings of Providence in the world. Functioning simultaneously as history and theological essay, The City of God provides a framework for reflecting on the authority of Scripture and the historian, the destiny of pagan heroes, the possibility of Christian tragedy, and the conflict between the two cities inextricably intertwined in this earthly realm.
Servane Rayne-Michel is a graduate of the École Normale Supérieure, holds an agrégation in Modern Literature, and teaches French at the secondary level. Her research focuses on the Augustinian heritage in literature.
This study examines the interplay between medieval romance and patristic theology within the framework of thirteenth-century French literature. The Arthurian prose cycles often engage with complex questions of secular history, divine providence, and the legacy of classical antiquity. By considering how foundational theological models influence vernacular narrative traditions, the volume situates the chivalric world within a broader medieval intellectual and spiritual landscape. Readers interested in medieval literary history and the reception of Saint Augustine may find this volume relevant to their inquiries.
The relationship between scriptural authority and secular storytelling has long been central to medieval literary studies. Saint Augustine's theological framework provided medieval writers with a language for interpreting history and human agency. This book addresses themes such as the status of pagan history, the nature of tragedy, and the tension between earthly and heavenly realms as they appear in Arthurian romance. It contributes to ongoing discussions regarding the religious dimensions of vernacular prose fiction during the high Middle Ages.