Old French Romances, Done into English

"Old French Romances, Done into English" by William Morris is a compilation of old stories translated into English, probably written in the late 1800s, which presents stories from the Middle Ages full of courageous heroes, captivating love, and daring adventures. The book starts with an introduction that talks about where these stories came from, explaining that they were inspired by Byzantine stories and the Crusades. The first story tells of King Coustans from Byzantium, whose destiny is tied to a prophecy; even though he was born under bad conditions it was predicted he would rise to greatness. The prediction of a Christian child sets the stage for political games and the mystical, both common parts of medieval tales. Morris worked to keep the excitement of the original stories alive, while also making them understandable for people who speak English.