The Poems of Oswald Von Wolkenstein

This book offers the first complete English translation of the poems by the late-medieval German (Tyrolean) Oswald von Wolkenstein (1376/1377-1445). Oswald von Wolkenstein was one of the leading poets of his time and created some of the most exciting, experimental, and also deeply religious-conservative poetry of the entire Middle Ages and far beyond. German scholarship and musicologists have long recognized the extraordinary strength and power of Oswald s Middle High German songs, both in terms of his poetic imagery and his musical performance. This book proves Oswald's uvre to be one of the most idiosyncratic and individualistic in the entire late Middle Ages. Classen reveals how Oswald continued the medieval tradition, yet was a true innovator, exploring new attitudes toward love, sexuality, travel, war, politics, language, music, and, above all, his own individuality.

"Classen's translations of Oswald von Wolkenstein's poems offer a critically grounded yet highly readable introduction to the poet's impressive body of work, which ranges from the devoutly spiritual to the bawdily profane. In so doing, the translations offer general readers an excellent insight into the broad thematic spectrum of medieval lyric poetry, and into the character of a knight whom many consider to be the greatest German-language lyric poet of the later Middle Ages." - Siegfried Christoph, Professor of German, Modern Languages Department, University of Wisconsin-Parkside

"In the last forty years or so medieval German scholarship has experienced a profound paradigm shift, re-discovering some of the most important voices in fifteenth-century literature, such as Hugo von Montfort, Michel Beheim, the Monk of Salzburg, Hans Rosenplüt, and, above all, Oswald von Wolkenstein. Classen, an esteemed medievalist with an impeccable reputation, here offers the first complete translation of Oswald s songs into English. He has worked on this poet for more than two decades and can be regarded as one of the foremost experts on Oswald s work. This translation is a significant contribution that will greatly further teaching and scholarship of late-medieval German literature in the English speaking world." - William C. McDonald, Professor, Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures University of Virginia

"This new translation finally makes Oswald vonWolkenstein accessible to those not in command of Middle High German but nevertheless drawn to the most intriguing German author of the late Middle Ages. The widely traveled Tyrolian provides courtly love with a new twist, and the broad spectrum of his poetry will attract anyone interested in his surprising commentary on political events. Classen s translation is not only thorough and intelligent, but it also reveals a deep understanding of the language and writings of this unique author." - Rasma Lazda, Associate Professor of German, University of Alabama

ALBRECHT CLASSEN is University Distinguished Professor of German Studies, University of Arizona, USA.