Actual Medieval Literature
As much medieval-era literature as I can possibly gather into one list! Largely focused on romances, lais, Arthuriana, &c.
created by kateesreads
last updated August, 2026
Comments
I was just thinking of making such a list given the drama in the medieval quest. 😂 And WHOA I AM SO HYPED FOR DE PIZAN! (LeeGwap, you might be intrigued, as well!) I'll have to check my bookshelf (and what I can remember from my online meanderings through the public domain) to find more candidates for your list! ❤️
Oh I didn't even know there was drama in the medieval quest 😭 I assumed that was more about historical fiction / medieval inspired fantasy than actual texts from the time lol
Yes, but apparently people kept asking about why certain works had been included despite being Tudor-focused or so on.
Ahh the contentious question of where the medieval period ends lol...
More recs, though: Lanzelet by von Zatzikhoven. Different (12th c.) take on Lancelot and focusing on his early adventures. The Crown by von dem Turlin. 13th c. Gawain adventures, Sir Kay is also excellently written. The Perilous Cemetery edited by Nancy B. Black. Pain to obtain but really fun Gawain adventure playing with the theme of reputation and identity and existence. 13th c. The Writings of Teresa de Cartagena, 15th c. Deaf nun of Jewish background who wrote a treatise on how illness benefited one spiritually and then another treatise countering critics who dismissed her writing out-of-hand due to her disabled, female identity. Have not actually read it yet, though. 😓 The Knight of the Two Swords: A Thirteenth-Century Arthurian Romance, trans. Ross G. Arthur and Noel L. Corbett. Still have to get this one, too, but the opening thousand lines is basically how the Queen of Cardigan took a quest to win her kingdom back and that's just so fun. Jaufre is the only surviving Arthurian legend originally written in Occitan, 13th c., ablist (evil lepers) but with an unusual choice of hero (not Gawain/Tristan/etc.) and honestly Jaufre's confrontation with the fountain lady's unwanted suitor is just such an excellent portrayal of a Nice Guy. 😂 Wigalois: The Knight of Fortune's Wheel by von Grafenberg is one version of a common medieval Arthurian story, but this one is an actual book AND English translation. Three Purgatory Poems edited by Edward Foster is a book of 3 14th c. versions of poems, I've only read the Sir Owein one but that one is just neat because it's a shorter English contemporary to Purgatorio. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, and Sir Orfeo by Tolkien is a collection of Tolkien's translations of those works... I know Green Knight is already on there but Orfeo is just a fun comparison with the Greek legend of Orpheus. The 14th c. author took great liberties adapting it for his own cultural context.
Oh thank you lol! Will add later
love the list! if you're accepting suggestions, i think water margin might be a good fit? and also the siege of jerusalem
Yes lol will add some extra ones later!
You should add Divine Comedy by Dante. Also, very happy to see Christine De Pizan here. The only person I ever heard talking about her is my Italian highschool teacher. I'll have to read it for school.
Oh yes I only started making this on my walk to work lol I'm still missing quite a bit! Will add Dante lmao
You had a wounderful idea, thank you for making this!
oooh this is so cool! thank you for compiling!
thank you so much for this list! i've been looking for something like it, glad you put it together for all of us!
