Roland was just a young boy when, to his father's amazement, he slew the huge, bellowing ox—which provided him with his famous war-horn. He was only a lad of thirteen when, against orders, he led ten young squires into battle against the invading Saracens and saved the oriflamme, the cirmson war banner of the Emperor. For this brave act he and the ten squires were knighted by Charlemagne, mightiest of all the rulers of the West.

Here, in a lively new volume, are the famous adventures of Roland, Charlemagne's most daring and faithful knight, and the stories of his fearless companions who were called the peers of France. All of the familiar episodes are included, from the bloody, prolonged, but happy battle between Roland and Oliver to the final, tragic sounding of the horn of Roland at Roncesvalles.

With extraordinary faithfulness to the original versions of Roland's story, the French chansons de geste, Jay Williams has here brilliantly retold the heroic, tragic tale of Roland.

From the dust jacket