Legends of Charlemagne

Legends of Charlemagne is a book by Thomas Bulfinch, first published in 1863. This engaging work retells the romantic and heroic tales surrounding the great Frankish emperor Charlemagne and his legendary knights, including Roland, Oliver, and Rinaldo. Drawing from medieval epics and chansons de geste, Bulfinch brings to life the rich tapestry of Carolingian legend—full of magical encounters, epic battles, noble quests, and courtly love. His accessible prose style was crafted for a 19th-century readership seeking to understand the foundations of Western literature and myth without the barriers of scholarly language. The book forms part of Bulfinch’s larger effort to preserve and popularise the mythological and heroic traditions that shaped the cultural imagination of Europe. It remains a valuable introduction to the legendary world that bridges history, fantasy, and moral idealism.