Béroul

Béroul is the name traditionally assigned to the author of a fragmented version of the Old French romance of Tristan and Iseult. His work is one of the earliest surviving texts of the Tristan legend, and it offers a distinctly different perspective on the story compared to other versions, notably that of Thomas of Britain.

Very little is known about Béroul himself. The existing text is incomplete, consisting of around 4,485 octosyllabic lines and shows evidence of multiple scribal interventions. Based on linguistic analysis of the surviving fragment, scholars generally place the composition of Béroul's Tristan around the second half of the 12th century, likely in the region of Normandy or Brittany.

Béroul's version of the Tristan story is characterized by a more realistic and less idealized portrayal of the protagonists. Tristan and Iseult are depicted as less driven by courtly love conventions and more by a potent love potion, which, after its effects wear off, leaves them grappling with the consequences of their actions and trying to evade King Mark. A key feature of Béroul's narrative is the emphasis on the deception and cunning employed by Tristan and Iseult to maintain their affair while appearing innocent to Mark. The forest of Morois plays a significant role as a place of refuge and hardship for the lovers.

The text is valuable for its insights into the social and political context of the time, and it provides a contrasting viewpoint to the more refined and courtly versions of the Tristan legend found in the works of authors like Thomas. Due to its fragmentary nature, there are ongoing debates about the original scope and ending of Béroul's romance. The surviving fragment offers a glimpse into a more earthy and arguably more morally ambiguous interpretation of the tragic love story.