Das Rolandslied des Pfaffen Konrad, nach der Ausg. von Carl Welse

Das Rolandslied, written by the cleric Konrad in the late 12th century, stands as a seminal work of Middle High German literature. It represents the first German adaptation of the Old French Chanson de Roland, transforming the epic tale of Charlemagne and his nephew Roland into a courtly and religious narrative that reflects the spirit of the Crusades. This specific volume is a scholarly edition published by Max Niemeyer Verlag in 1966, curated by Carl Wesle.

The academic foundation for this edition traces back to the meticulous philological work of Carl Wesle, whose research aimed to preserve and contextualize the linguistic nuances of Konrad’s original Middle High German. By the mid-20th century, Niemeyer's publication of this text served to maintain the academic standard for students and scholars of medieval German studies, ensuring the accessibility of the verse narrative long after its medieval inception.