Malory: Texts and Sources by P. J. C. Field (review)

Abstract

MLR,96.3,200 I 789 Amerbach. The issuealso includes RobertCummings' penetrating review of Michael Baths's Speaking Pictures (I994). WOLFSON COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE C. W.R.D. MOSELEY Maloty: Wexts andSources. ByP. J. C. FIELD.(Arthurian Studies, 40)Cambridge: Brewer. I998. X+ 3I3PP £5°; $90 P.J.C. Fieldisthemost experienced ofMalory scholars andthis collection ofhis articles onthetexts andsources ofLeMorte Darthur isa very welcome publication. Only oneofthe chapters isnew, butstudents andscholars ofMalory will begladto havethe material gathered here insuch a convenient form. Theearliest ofthe essays dates from I972, butover halfofthem arethe result ofa major editorial undertaking: Field'srevision ofEugeneVinaver's 771e Works ofSir171omas Maloyforitsthird edition (I990). Thosewhoregret thatFieldwasnotgiven greater freedom inhisrevision of Works willbe pleasedtofind heresomeofthefruits ofhiseditorial labours. His knowledge ofthe material isextremely impressive andhehandles the Frensshe Bookes andtheir multiple versions andmanuscripts with aneasethat few Malory scholars, I suspect, canrival. Quitesimply, very few havedoneas muchofthenecessary spadework. No doubtVinaver's knowledge wasevengreater, butFieldhasone distinct advantage over hisillustrious predecessor, apart, ofcourse, from hismuch more extensive knowledge oftheEnglish texts andbackground: hewrites without thebiasthat Vinaver sooften betrayed. Understandably but, I think, regrettably, Vinaver revealed a preference for theFrench texts that gavetheimpression that Malory wassometimes misrepresenting hissources rather than adapting them. With such a variety ofsubjects, itisdifficult topayattention toindividual essays, other thantoexpress satisfaction thatwe nowhaveeasieraccesstosomevery important articles, in particular numbers I (on thetwotexts), 5 (on historical allusions in Malory), IO (onWilliam Matthew's theory aboutresponsibility for revising theCaxton text), II (onthe empire ofLucius Iberius though itwould be interesting toknow why Fieldprefers toread'pulle'(Morte Arthure, 1.604) asApulia rather than Poland, which makes a more suitable geographical partner toshare an alliterative linewith Prussia, especially with neighbouring Lithuania tobefound in line605),I6 (ontheFrench prose Lancelot), I9 (onthe source ofthe Gareth), and23 (onMalory aspoet). In all theessays, one is constantly impressed by thesoundness of Field's arguments. He isnever tempted tooffier easytheories, however attractive they may be. Often he is onlytooready to admit thattheevidence proves, orconfirms, nothing at all. His claimsare at timesso modest, surrounded withso much circumspection that, when hedoespropose a solution, weareallthemore readily convinced. Hetakes histime, discusses the possibilities, mentions the impossibilities, andonly when thewhole matter hasbeeninvestigated doesheoffer a conclusion, reasonedand reasonable, judicious, level-headed, and authoritative. I have, perhaps, one hesitation. Although theevidence usedin theessayon Malory's knowledge ofFrench (4)forms the basisofa convincing argument, onecannot help feeling that the conclusion goesa little toofar. Isithelpful tosaythat 'Malory knew French very much lesswellthan hewanted hisreaders tobelieve' (p.46,myitalics), or thathe 'wasso proudofhisknowledge ofFrench' (p.44)?Butperhaps I am objecting only tothetoneoftheconclusion, thesort ofclin d'oeil that, elsewhere, I find sorefreshing. Reviews 79o Fieldconducts extremely complex arguments with great clarity. He organizes a daunting mass ofmaterial andevidence without ever taking short-cuts. Theamount of reading, checking, and collation behindhis research is mostimpressive. Sometimes, thecomplexity ofthematerial means that theessays donotmake easy reading; wemust follow theintricacies oftheargument with closeattention. But that initself isexcellent discipline for those whowant totread thetextual path. At thesametime, Fieldhandles hisextensive learning with elegance andlightness of touch, often communicating a sense ofpleasure tothereader asweunravel things together. Itishardtoresist theoccasional flashes ofwitamidst denseandserious arguments (often toburst the bubble ofanill-founded theory), andField's enjoyment oftheintellectual challenge oftextual investigation makes hisessays a pleasure to read (or reread).Maloryspecialists, theirgraduate students, and scholars of medieval literature ingeneral canonly congratulate the publishers onhaving given Fieldtheopportunity ofrevising andupdating hisarticles andofcollecting them in this extremely useful andimportant volume. UNIVERSITE DEBOURGOGNE TERENCE MCCARTHY A Guide toEnglish Illustrated Books: I536-I603. BYRUTH SAMSON LUBORSKY and ELIZABETH MORLEY INGRAM. (Medieval & Renaissance Texts & Studies, I 66) Tempe, AZ: Medieval & Renaissance Texts & Studies.I998. 2 vols.Vol.I: xxxi + 754pp.;Vol.II:V+ 2I7pp.+ illustrations. $75;£53together. ThisGuide istheresult ofprodigious labour, detailing andcross-referencing the occurrences ofsomefive thousand woodcuts andengravings, with useful notes on topics andindividual texts. Itspurpose istorecord thefirst andthen subsequent usesofindividual images inEnglish books, I536to I603.BothSTC andEdward Hodnett's English Woodcuts I480-I535 arebuilt upon.It follows an alphabetical STC order, rather thanHodnett's orderbyprinter, and it covers theperiod subsequent toHodnett, providing cross-references tothe Hodnett cuts that were reusedduring theGuide's period. Probably several hundred ofHodnett's 2500cuts were sore-used later. TheGuide iscomplex, its754pagesofentries followed byseveral appendices in Volume II:theHodnett concordance, special appendices ontheseries of'Labors of theMonths', andonthestock cutsofships andofZodiacMan...