When I first picked up this book for my husband several years ago, I had no idea that it was a translation of three short stories from the Middle Ages. All I knew was that it had Tolkien’s name on it and that we were both big fans of his work.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

I read the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight because a reference was made in a TV show to Sir Gawain and I felt like I was missing out on something important. And I was right!

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is an incredible tale about a Knight who accepts the challenge of the Green Knight to a fight of honor. On the next New Year, Sir Gawain is to travel across the countryside to the home of the Green Knight and attempt to strike him down. A year later he spends Christmas in a castle with a Lord and Lady who say they can help him get to the home of the Green Knight in a few days time.

Gawain’s honor is tested while staying with the Lord and Lady, and reminds us that while something might seem great in the present, we must keep our honor, honesty, and virtue intact and look towards the future. Had he failed these disguised tests before meeting the Green Knight, he would have lost his life. The actions of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight are still incredibly important in today’s society. Daily, we are faced with immediate feedback and rewards, but those outcomes may not be what is best for our futures.

This story is written as a poem and can be difficult at times, but the writing is beautiful and moving. The vivid description brings you into the English landscape and carries you with as Gawain travels to meet the Green Knight. Every reread will surely bring new and deeper insight.

The Pearl & Sir Orfeo

Our book also has a translation of The Pearl and of Sir Orfeo. I’ll be honest, I struggled to understand a lot of the depth involved in The Pearl and plan to reread it. I could understand several of the Biblical references and deeply Christian roots, but many were lost on me because I found the phrasing challenging.

However, Sir Orfeo was another story that everyone should read! It is a love story where a King searches for his Queen who was taken by fairies. Upon his return years later, he is unrecognizable and tests the honor of those around him (Similar to Odysseus in The Odyssey when he returns from Troy to find his house overrun with suitors). I teared up as I read this short story and would highly recommend it to all romance fans. The King’s relentless pursuit for his Queen, forsaking all other desires, is a touching and timeless story that reminds every reader that love and honor are always worth sacrifice.