John Lydgate’s

[1412-1420] is an expansive look at the story of ancient Troy from its founding through its fall at the hand of the Greeks. In 30,117 lines of ten-syllable heroic couplets, Lydgate weaves together and translates disparate sources to tell one of the most comprehensive versions of the story. He expands on his various sources, adding rich detail and considering the moral situations that his characters find themselves in, situations that would have resonated with Lydgate’s fifteenth-century audience. The

survives in 23 manuscripts, attesting to the work’s popularity during its own time and during the early modern period.

Historical Context

Born in Lydgate (or Lidgate) in Suffolk, John Lydgate (c. 1370-c. 1451) spent much of life as monk

3070 words

Citation: Brenner, Caitlin. "Troy Book". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 19 May 2021 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=8477, accessed 22 November 2024.]

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