See the word knight and you’ll likely think of gallant men facing off on the field of battle, or rescuing fair maidens from danger, or jousting at tournaments. Since the early 19th century, poets, authors, painters, and playwrights have cultivated such images of medieval knighthood—images that continue to capture our imagination to this day.

But just how true to medieval history are these images? What do they tell us about how life was lived in the Middle Ages? What does our obsession with them tell us about who we are today?

In The Culture of Knighthood and Medieval Romance, join scholar of medieval literature Larissa Tracy for a fascinating dive into the deeper context of narratives about knights and their world. Her Audible Original takes you through the evolution of knighthood and courtly literature, dispelling prevalent myths about chivalry and romance with an eye to revealing just how textured and complex these ideas actually were. Blending historical scholarship and literary analysis, these lectures offer new ways to think about myths and legends, medieval manuscripts, epic tales, and even contemporary films.

This is an up-close-and-personal look at knights in shining armor and beautiful ladies—as they really were.