The Gests of King Alexander of Macedon: Two Middle-English Alliterative Fragments, Alexander A and Alexander B

Published in 1929, this scholarly edition by Francis Peabody Magoun, Jr. provides a critical study of two distinct Middle English alliterative poems concerning the life of Alexander the Great. These texts, identified as Alexander A and Alexander B, survive in unique manuscripts and offer significant insight into the linguistic and literary traditions of the late fourteenth century. Magoun’s work serves as a foundational text for medievalists, meticulously presenting the fragmentary nature of these narratives alongside detailed linguistic analysis.

The editorial approach reflects the rigorous philological standards of Harvard University’s Department of English during the early twentieth century. Magoun sought to clarify the complex relationship between these fragments and their Latin sources, particularly the Historia de Preliis. By contextualizing the verse within the broader tradition of the Alexander Romance, the volume remains a vital reference for understanding how classical legends were reimagined and localized for medieval English audiences.