The Tale of Jaufre
Adapted and Told by Anne Lister
When: Wednesday 09 July, 19.30-21.30
Where: Michael Sadler Building: LG.10
This Event is Free of Charge
Jaufre is a 13th-century tale of King Arthur, originally told in Occitan. The story involves King Arthur, a young knight keen to avenge an insult, giants, a demon knight, an underwater fairy, mysterious lamentations, and an independent, feisty heroine. It’s definitely more Monty Python than Mists of Avalon.
Anne’s research has involved telling this story in English to varied audiences. She concludes that the most likely date for the composition of the story was 1225, making this year its 800th anniversary and so a suitable time to be taking the story around to as many people as possible.
Anne’s doctoral studies included investigating the story, the story of the story as it evolved over time, the manuscripts where it survives, the king to whom it was probably dedicated - and indeed the king’s family and their links to Aliénor of Aquitaine and Henry II of England. Her work is now published in two books – The Tale of Jaufre and Telling the Tale of Jaufre, published by Trivent. But this tale was always intended to be told to an audience, and that is exactly what Anne will be doing at the Congress. She has been a storyteller, singer, and songwriter on a professional level for all of her adult life and her fascination with Jaufre has been almost as long.