Primary Sources list #1
Explore our curated list of primary source books for in-depth historical research. Discover authentic first-hand accounts, original documents, and essential references for scholars and history enthusiasts.
Book
Le Morte D'Arthur
by Sir Thomas Malory
In a time when there were damsels in distress to save and mythical dragons to slay, King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table were there to render justice in the face of any danger. From the incredible wizardry of Merlin to the undeniable passion of Sir Launcelot, these tales of Arthur and his knights offer epic adventures with the supernatural as well as timeless battles with our own humanity. Keith Baines's splendid rendition of Le Morte d'Arthurfaithfully preserves the original flavour of Malory's masterpiece - that of banners and bloodshed, knights and ladies, Christians and sorcerers, sentiment and savagery. It remains a vivid medieval tapestry woven about a central figure who symbolises the birth of an age of chivalry.
Book
The Saga of the Volsungs
by Jesse L. Byock
One of the great books of world literature--an unforgettable tale of jealousy, unrequited love, greed, and vengeance. Based on Viking Age poems and composed in thirteenth-century Iceland, The Saga of the Volsungs combines mythology, legend, and sheer human drama in telling of the heroic deeds of Sigurd the dragon slayer, who acquires runic knowledge from one of Odin's Valkyries. Yet the saga is set in a very human world, incorporating oral memories of the fourth and fifth centuries, when Attila the Hun and other warriors fought on the northern frontiers of the Roman empire. In his illuminating Introduction Jesse L. Byock links the historical Huns, Burgundians, and Goths with the extraordinary events of this Icelandic saga. With its ill-fated Rhinegold, the sword reforged, and the magic ring of power, the saga resembles the Nibelungenlied and has been a primary source for such fantasy writers as J. R. R. Tolkien and for Richard Wagner's Ring cycle. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
![The city of God ; an abridged version from the translation by Gerald G. Walsh [and others] with a condensation of the original forward by Etienne Gilson. Edited, with an introd. by Vernon J. Bourke Cover](https://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/0385029101.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg)
