This book is a beautiful example of a very popular literary form, the chivalric romance: tales of heroic adventures, all in a search for love. Theuerdank tells of the dangerous and heroic adventures of Emperor Maximilian I on his journey to claim his bride, Mary of Burgundy. The story was written in rhyming couplets. The knight Theuerdank (a figure representing Maximilian) reaches his bride,vanquishes his enemies, and is finally sent off on a crusade toprove beyond all doubt his worthiness as a Christian knight.
This special exhibition at the Folger features rare books from the collection of Stuart and Mimi Rose that present literary, cultural, and historical high points.