A work that weaves connections between medieval literature and Romandy. Professor of French Literature of the Middle Ages at the Universities of Neuchâtel and Lausanne, Alain Corbellari, has dedicated his latest book to medieval texts and characters that reflect the current French-speaking area. There we meet King Arthur, who in some collections is said to have died during a battle against the Cats of Lausanne, but also the poet Othon de Grandson, who founded the tradition of Valentine’s Day.
With this work, Alain Corbellerie says he wanted to expand the “Middle Ages” section of literary history works dedicated to French-speaking Switzerland, which was typically limited to “brief chapters”.
This is how the author views the figure of Count Rodolph II, lord of Neuchâtel, who left a significant mark in medieval literature. However, this is the origin of nine court songs, which are written in German. “He is one of the earliest Minnesänger, the Germanic equivalent of what we in France call troubadours in the south and trouvères in the north,” says Alain Corbellari.
In his book, the professor also returns to the false chronicle of the canon, which claims to cover the period from 1377 to 1516, but which was actually written in 1777 by a notable Neuchâtel resident. He “wanted to show that the people of Neuchâtel had always been very close to the Swiss. All this to try to show that Neuchâtel should naturally join the Swiss orbit,” explains Alain Corbellari. This hoax was brought to light in the 19th century by the Neuchâtel philologist Arthur Piaget, causing a stir in Switzerland.
The work also narrates the imprisonment of Benedetto da Piglio in the prison tower of Neuchâtel for several months in 1415. This Italian humanist was arrested upon his return from the Council of Constance, during which he had lent his support to a cardinal. The man gave details of his captivity, as well as his escape attempt.
Through short chapters, Alain Corbellari sets out to bring together the various pieces of a puzzle that is sometimes scattered beyond French-speaking borders and offers an accessible journey for a wide audience with the people who left their mark on the region in the Middle Ages. /SBM