The Troy Book

work by Lydgate

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July 14, 2026

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The Troy Book is a long narrative poem written by John Lydgate between 1412 and 1421. Commissioned by the prince of Wales, later Henry V, it is a retelling of the story of Troy and the Trojan War. Lydgate based his work on the Historia troiana by Guido delle Colonne, which itself drew from earlier accounts of the legendary conflict. The poem details the events leading up to and during the Trojan War, including the famous Trojan horse stratagem. Lydgate's Troy Book was influential in medieval literature, contributing to the enduring legend of Troy in European culture.

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John Lydgate
…from vast narratives such as The Troy Book and The Falle of Princis to occasional poems of a few lines. Of the longer poems, one translated from the French, the allegory Reason and Sensuality (c. 1408) on the theme of chastity, contains fresh and charming descriptions of nature, in well-handled…
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…from vast narratives such as The Troy Book and The Falle of Princis to occasional poems of a few lines. Of the longer poems, one translated from the French, the allegory Reason and Sensuality (c. 1408) on the theme of chastity, contains fresh and charming descriptions of nature, in well-handled…
Read More