Three masterpieces of medieval poetry, translated by the author of The Lord of the Rings—including Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the poem that inspired the major motion picture The Green Knight Comparable to the works of Chaucer, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, and Sir Orfeo weave a bright tapestry of stories from a remote age of chivalry and wizards, knights and holy quests—but unlike The Canterbury Tales, the name of the poet who wrote them is lost to time. Masterfully translated from the original Middle English by J.R.R. Tolkien, the language of these great poems comes to life for modern readers.  At the center of this collection is Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, a tale as lush and dark as England’s medieval forests. Mixing romance and adventure, Sir Gawain follows King Arthur’s most noble knight on an adventure of epic enchantment, temptation, and destiny. SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT, PEARL, and SIR ORFEO are masterpieces of a remote and exotic age--the age of chivalry and wizards, knights and holy quests. Yet it is only in the unique artistry and imagination of J.R.R. Tolken that the language, romance, and power of these great stories comes to life for modern readers, in this masterful and compelling new translation. SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT, PEARL, and SIR ORFEO are masterpieces of a remote and exotic age--the age of chivalry and wizards, knights and holy quests. Yet it is only in the unique artistry and imagination of J.R.R. Tolken that the language, romance, and power of these great stories comes to life for modern readers, in this masterful and compelling new translation. John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born on January 3, 1892, in Bloemfontein, South Africa. After serving in World War I, he embarked upon a distinguished academic career and was recognized as one of the finest philologists in the world. He was a professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford, a fellow of Pembroke College, and a fellow of Merton College until his retirement in 1959. He is, however, beloved throughout the world as the creator of Middle-earth and author of such classic works as The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. He died on September 2, 1973, at the age of eighty-one. When the siege and the assault had ceased at Troy, and the fortress fell in flame to firebrands and ashes, the traitor who the contrivance of treason there fashioned was tried for his treachery, the most true upon earth— it was Æneas the noble and his renowned kindred who then laid under them lands, and lords became of well-nigh all the wealth in the Western Isles. When royal Romulus to Rome his road had taken, in great pomp and pride he peopled it first, and named it with his own name that yet now it bears; Tirius went to Tuscany and towns founded, Langaberde in Lombardy uplifted halls, and far over the French flood Felix Brutus on many a broad bank and brae Britain established full fair, where strange things, strife and sadness, at whiles in the land did fare, and each other grief and gladness oft fast have followed there. 2 And when fair Britain was founded by this famous lord, bold men were bred there who in battle rejoiced, and many a time that betid they troubles aroused. In this domain more marvels have by men been seen than in any other that I know of since that olden time; but of all that here abode in Britain as kings ever was Arthur most honoured, as I have heard men tell. Wherefore a marvel among men I mean to recall, a sight strange to see some men have held it, one of the wildest adventures of the wonders of Arthur. If you will listen to this lay but a little while now, I will tell it at once as in town I have heard it told, as it is fixed and fettered in story brave and bold, thus linked and truly lettered, as was loved in this land of old. 3 This king lay at Camelot at Christmas-tide with many a lovely lord, lieges most noble, indeed of the Table Round all those tried brethren, amid merriment unmatched and mirth without care. There tourneyed many a time the trusty knights, and jousted full joyously these gentle lords; then to the court they came at carols to play. For there the feast was unfailing full fifteen days, with all meats and all mirth that men could devise, such gladness and gaiety as was glorious to hear, din of voices by day, and dancing by night; all happiness at the highest in halls and in bowers had the lords and the ladies, such as they loved most dearly. With all the bliss of this world they abode together, the knights most renowned after the name of Christ, and the ladies most lovely that ever life enjoyed, and he, king most courteous, who that court possessed. For all that folk so fair did in their first estate abide, Under heaven the first in fame, their king most high in pride; it would now be hard to name a troop in war so tried. 4 While New Year was yet young that yestereve had arrived, that day double dainties on the dai