Chrétien de Troyes

Chrétien de Troyes was a French poet and trouvère who flourished in the late 12th century. He is considered to be the earliest known French author of Arthurian romance and has been credited with originating the courtly romance genre. His works are noted for their high level of sophistication and detail, often featuring intricate plots with complex characterization and psychological study, as well as lyrical beauty. His works include some of the first known stories of Lancelot, Perceval, Yvain, and other characters from Arthurian legend that would become famous throughout literature. Chrétien also helped to popularize elements such as the quest for a holy object, magical beasts, and chivalry. He was one of the first authors to incorporate elements of Christianity into his work, which eventually became an integral part of courtly romances. His influence on medieval literature led to him being referred to as “the grandfather of romance”. His works remain very popular in modern times, and several of them have been adapted for film and television.