Samson and Delilah in Medieval Insular French investigates several different adaptations of the story of Samson that enabled it to move from a strictly religious sphere into vernacular and secular artworks. Catherine Léglu explores the narrative’s translation into French in medieval England, examining the multiple versions of the Samson narrative via its many adaptations into verse, prose, visual art and musical. Utilizing a multidisciplinary approach, this text draws together examples from several genres and media, focusing on the importance of book learning to secular works. In analysing this Biblical narrative, Léglu reveals the importance of the Samson and Delilah story as a point of entry into a fuller understanding of medieval translations and adaptations of the Bible.
"This monograph will prove of interest to medievalists in a variety of disciplines and should be accessible to advanced graduate students. Its greatest strength is its interdisciplinarity, for it deftly connects textual studies, monastic culture, art history, and medievalism ... . this volume will open the modern reader to the full complexity of the reception-re-creation cycle that is so emblematic of medieval Europe." (Christopher Callahan, Speculum, Vol. 95 (2), 2020)