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  • La Conquête de Constantinople: édition bilingue
  • Peter Noble
Robert De Clari . La Conquête de Constantinople: édition bilingue. Publication, traduction, pre´sentation et notes par Jean Dufournet ( Moyen Âge, 14). Paris, Champion, 2004. 335 pp. Pb €10.00.

Jean Dufournet has now added to his work on the texts of the Fourth Crusade by publishing this new edition with facing translation of the text of Robert de Clari. Dufournet has produced an elegant translation corresponding closely to the text, although he does not follow exactly the punctuation of the text. The text is his own, taken from the only surviving manuscript, although he mentions his debt to the excellent edition of Philippe Lauer in the Introduction. He does not normally indicate where he differs from Lauer. There is room for disagreement over his use of capitals and punctuation, but otherwise the text gives an accurate reading. It is a little confusing in that text and translation do not always reach the foot of a page at the same point, but careful spacing at the end of sections means that the parallel layout is recaptured at the start of each section. There is an introduction, notes, a glossary, an index of names, a bibliography and two maps, which are unfortunately on a small scale and quite difficult to read. Whether a glossary is necessary when the translation follows the text so closely is doubtful, but the index of names is full and useful. The bibliographical method is rather confusing. There is a short bibliography with the editions and secondary works primarily concerned with Clari and to a much lesser extent Villehardouin. There are, however, many very interesting bibliographical references in the notes, where they are extremely hard to find. This is a real pity, as they would be very useful in the bibliography. The notes are interesting but some of them seem aimed more at those who are already familiar with the period and the crusade. The same criticism can be made of the Introduction, which offers some real insights into Clari and his writing, but seems to take it for granted that any reader will be completely familiar with the background to the crusade and the strained relations between Byzantium and the West. This leaves a question as to the audience for whom this edition is intended. It is not as massively detailed as, say, Faral's edition of Villehardouin, and the price suggests that it is intended for a student reader. If so, the reader is going to have to do a lot of homework to get full value from this volume. None the less this is a very welcome addition to the bibliography of the Fourth Crusade by one of the great authorities on its chroniclers and will be of great use to those interested.

Peter Noble
University of Reading
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