Aucassin and Nicolete

by Unknown

"Aucassin and Nicolete" by Andrew Lang is a translation of an anonymous medieval French chantefable from the 12th or 13th century. This unique "sung story" combines prose and verse to tell of Aucassin, a nobleman's son who forsakes knighthood for his beloved Nicolette, a Saracen maiden. When their families oppose their love, the couple faces imprisonment, separation, and adventures across kingdoms. The work parodies medieval literary traditions, reversing gender roles and courtly romance conventions while satirizing the aristocratic culture of its time.