Jousts and Tournaments: Charny and Chivalric Sport in 14th Century France

Steven Muhlberger adds a significant new work to the understanding of the 'tournament' of the 14th century with this groundbreaking work. Drawing extensively and with great expertise from the historial record, and featuring the first translation of the 14th century Demands Pour La Joute, Le Tournois et La Guerre, by Sir Geoffroi de Charny, Dr. Muhlberger has created a crystal clear picture of what the sweat, blood and competion of the mounted tournament was all about. Illustrated with six beautiful full-page color illuminations, the book is also unusually accessible for an academic work, an enjoyable read for medieval enthusiasts at any level of knowledge or experience. The book is presented in two parts. Part I offers the analysis, while Part II contains the original French transcription by Michael Anthony Taylor and a facing page translation of each question posed by the wiley 14th century de Charny. Muhlberger's translation of these questions alone warrant interest in the book, since they lend a fascinating glimpse into the concerns of tourneyers and how they thought.