West Virginia University Press has published Book of Emperors: A Translation of the Middle High German Kaiserchronik by Henry A. Myers. It is Volume 14 of the Medieval European Studies series, which is edited by Patrick W. Conner, professor emeritus of English at WVU.

Siegfried Christoph, professor of German at the University of Wisconsin, Parkside calls Book of Emperors “A significant contribution in history, cultural studies, and German studies.”

The Kaiserchronik (c.1152–1165) is the first verse chronicle to have been written in a language other than Latin. This story recounts the exploits of the Roman, Byzantine, Carolingian, and Holy Roman kings and rulers, from the establishment of Rome to the start of the Second Crusade. As an early example of popular history, it was written for a non-monastic audience who would have preferred to read, or may only have been able to read, in German. As a rhymed chronicle, its combined use of the styles of language found within a vernacular epic and a factual treaty was a German innovation.

The Book of Emperors is the first complete translation of the Kaiserchronik from Middle High German to English. It is a rich resource not only for medieval German scholars and students, but also for those working in early cultural studies. It brings together an understanding of the conception of kingship in the German Middle Ages, from the relationship between emperor and king, to the moral, theological, and legal foundations of claims and legitimacy and the medieval epistemological approaches to historiography.

This translation includes a substantial introduction that discusses the historical and philological context of the work, as well as the themes of power and kingship. Each chapter begins with a brief introduction that distinguishes historical truths from the epic fiction found within the original text.

Henry A. Myers is professor emeritus of history at James Madison University.

To order this title or to learn more about this book or any WVU Press title, visit www.wvupress.com or phone (800) 621-2736.

Book of Emperors by Henry A. Myers
May 2013 / 416pp
PB 978-1-935978-70-1: $44.99

-WVU-

af/05/09/13

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