The Tale of Balen: Poetry Guide and Free Edition
The Tale of Balen: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
The Tale of Balen is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Swinburne, Algernon Charles (1837–1909).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Tale of Balen" by Algernon Charles Swinburne is a lyrical narrative poem written in the late 19th century, reflecting the styles and themes common in the Victorian era. It follows the tragic story of Sir Balen, a knight of King Arthur's Round Table, who becomes embroiled in fate's cruel intricacies and the themes of chivalry, honor, and familial bonds. The poem explores the consequences of actions driven by pride, jealousy, and love, all set against the backdrop of Arthurian legend. In the poem, Balen becomes a highly regarded knight at Camelot but soon finds himself cursed by a mysterious oracle after a chance encounter leads him to inadvertently slay a wronged knight. Encouraged by noble intentions, he embarks on a journey fraught with peril. Along the way, he meets his brother Balan, yet, due to tragic circumstances and misidentifications, the two ultimately face each other in battle, unaware of their familial ties. Their tragic deaths fulfill the ominous prophecy, leaving a legacy that intertwines heroism with sorrow, illustrating the inevitable tragedy of noble knights caught in the web of fate.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Tale of Balen
- Author credits: Swinburne, Algernon Charles (1837–1909)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- English poetry -- 19th century
Gutenberg collections
- Category: British Literature
- Category: Mythology, Legends & Folklore
- Category: Poetry
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.
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