Waltharius: The Latin Epic of Walther of Aquitaine

• Preface
• Introduction
• Bibliography
• Waltharius: Text and Translation
• Notes
• Appendix: Two Latin Battle Poems

• Waltharius, the Latin epic of Walther of Aquitaine, is one of the great monuments of medieval European literature. Set in a fifth-century world of Goths, Huns, Franks, and Burgundians, this poem from the ninth or tenth century tells a lively tale of adventure, treachery, and pitched battle. It recounts the daring escape of Walther and his betrothed, Hildegund, from the court of Attila the Hun, the pursuit of the lovers by Gunther and the Franks, and the moral dilemma of Hagen, who is torn between conflicting loyalties. In their new edition and translation, professors Brian Murdoch and Leonard Neidorf endeavor to make Waltharius more accessible and engaging than it has ever been before. 

• In addition to a facing-page presentation of the Latin text and the modern English verse translation, the book contains an extensive introduction, ample notes, an up-to-date bibliography, and other supplementary materials. 

• “The most engaging translation available of one of the most important medieval epics.”     

-R. D. Fulk, Indiana University

• “This is a book that every person interested in the Middle Ages should want to own.” 

-Joseph Harris, Harvard University

• “Waltharius brilliantly illuminates the so-called Dark Ages. Any reader can enjoy this lively rendering of an epic that fuses Latin learning with Germanic legend.”  

-Marijane Osborn, University of California, Davis

• “Tremendous! A rich introduction unveils the fascinating history behind Waltharius. Copious notes shed light on its interpretation. The Latin text is included, and the riveting verse translation brings the poem vividly to life for everyone. Highly recommended.”  

-Geoffrey Russom, Brown University

Latin, Germanic, Epic, Heroic, Medieval

• BRIAN MURDOCH received his PhD from the University of Cambridge. He is Professor Emeritus of German at Stirling University in Scotland, where he taught for most of his career. He has held Visiting Fellowships at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, at Magdalen College, Oxford, and Oriel College, Oxford. He has published numerous articles and books on medieval German and Latin literatures. His monographs include Old High German Literature (Twayne, 1983), The Germanic Hero (Hambledon, 1996), and Gregorius (Oxford University Press, 2012). As a literary translator, Murdoch’s works include Kudrun (Dent, 1987), All Quiet on the Western Front (Bodley Head, 1993), The Poems of Gaius Valerius Catullus (Choir Press, 2023) and Three Political Tales from Medieval Germany (Boydell & Brewer, 2024). 

• LEONARD NEIDORF received his PhD from Harvard University. He is Distinguished Professor of English at Shenzhen University, having previously taught at Nanjing University and Harvard University. He is the author of two monographs: The Transmission of Beowulf (2017) and The Art and Thought of the Beowulf Poet (2022), both of which were published by Cornell University Press. In collaboration with Tom Shippey, Neidorf edited Beowulf: Translation and Commentary (Uppsala Books, 2023). Neidorf has published more than 100 papers on medieval literature, which have appeared in a wide range of prominent journals, including ELH, Folklore, Traditio, and Journal of Germanic Linguistics. He is an Associate Editor of English Studies and the Editor-in-Chief of The Explicator.