'sir Gawayn & þe grene knyȝt' from north-west England in the late 1300s has a fantastic plot and composition. This edition (Penguin Classics) has a great translation and essays by [a:Brian Stone|128362|Brian Stone|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]. I read much of it out-loud and would love to hear it performed (oh, to have witnessed the 1971 play at Newcastle!).

The only sour note came near the end when Gawain blamed all his troubles on women. (We can both acknowledge the culture that produced this attitude and criticise it as sexist and wrong.)

I can't wait to read [a:Simon Armitage|117631|Simon Armitage|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1302209089p2/117631.jpg]'s translation during christ-tide.