Anthony Munday: The First Book of Primaleon of Greece

Book excerpt: This edition of Anthony Munday's The first book of Primaleon of Greece (1595) includes an introduction, notes, glossary, and critical apparatus that will enable modern readers to enjoy and better appreciate Munday's translation of the Iberian romance already turned into Italian and French before reaching English readers. Munday translated François de Vernassal's L'Histoire de Primaleon de Grece continuant celle de Palmerin D'Olive (1550), out of which he produced two different titles devoted to Emperor Palmerin's sons, Palmendos and Primaleon. The present volume is especially devoted to the coming of age and tournament activity in Constantinople of the main protagonist, prince Primaleon, as well as to Prince Edward of England's adventures throughout European lands, and to their final encounter. These twenty-four chapters follow the previous thirty-two in Vernassal's edition, published by Munday in 1589 and already edited by Leticia Álvarez-Recio (The Honourable, Pleasant and rare Conceited Historie of Palmendos, 2022). It aims to allow those readers interested in romance or Renaissance culture to gain access to texts that have remained so far ignored, in spite of the popularity they once enjoyed.