The Romance of Tristan and Iseult Completed

Born in sorrow and raised in the noble arts of chivalry, young Tristan arrives at the Cornish court of his uncle, King Mark, where his courage and peerless music quickly win the monarch's devotion. When duty calls him to cross treacherous seas and champion Cornwall against deadly foes, Tristan undertakes a perilous quest to win the golden-haired Irish princess, Iseult, as a bride for his royal uncle. Yet fate intervenes on the voyage home when Tristan and Iseult unwittingly drink a potent love philtre meant for the royal wedding night. Bound instantly by an enchanted passion that defies duty, honor, and sovereign vows, the two lovers find themselves swept into a dangerous world of secret trysts, burning jealousy, and court intrigue. Joseph Bédier weaves ancient myth and haunting lyricism into an unforgettable tale of devotion, testing whether love can survive against an unforgiving realm. Translated by Hilaire Belloc.