The Boke Huon de Bordeuxe

The Huon de Bordeaux is an Old French epic poem from the early 13th century. It tells the story of Huon, son of the Duke of Bordeaux, who accidentally kills his godfather, Charlot, son of Emperor Charlemagne. To avoid execution, Huon must complete a series of difficult tasks.1

This poem is significant as it marks a shift from the historical epic chanson de geste to the roman d'aventure, or romance.1

John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners, created a popular English prose translation of Huon de Bordeaux around 1534. This translation introduced characters like Oberon, king of the fairies, into English literature and influenced writers such as Edmund Spenser, William Shakespeare, and John Keats.12