My examination of Malory's work in the light of his times falls into a number of sections which examine his portrayal of government, society, love, religion and chivalry. I have at tempted to identify in each both Malory's own perceptions and those of his society and to show the links between them. I have also considered the proportions of realism and idealism in his work, where appropriate, as well as the accuracy of the physical picture which Malory's work gives of his times. To some extent my choice of topic has been prompted by a desire to justify, though certainly not to apologise for, the study of medieval European literature in the Southern hemisphere, particularly in Africa. I feel that both the internationalism and, if I may coin a term, the 'intertemporalism' promoted by such disciplines have their part to play in the modern world where they are seen as facets of universal human experience. They allow us to approach the stage where the experience of one man in any time may become the experience of any man in any time, and thus intellectually to transcend the bonds of race, or place, or time. The Morte d'Arthur is in this respect a pathway in human experience and the aim of my essay has been to test its reliability. Conclusions are expressed at intervals in the body of the essay, often at the end of a section or subsection, and, more generally, in a separate conclusion at the end. While most references are acknowledged in footnotes I have acknowledged quotations from Malory's work only by page number in the body of the essay. My text for these is Vinaver, E; Malory; Works (London:Oxford University Press, 1981). Since I am to some extent precariously straddling disciplines in this essay I hope that my heavy reliance on historians, particularly social historians, will be viewed with tolerance.

Thesis--Aarhus, 1975. / Includes indexes. Includes bibliographical references (p. 418-428).

The purpose of this study is to introduce the ten documents, written in the Italian language, registered by Riksarkivet, Stockholm. The oldest document being written in 1346 and the last one in 1520, they all belong to the European medieval period. The study provides the texts (sometimes contracted, sometimes partly translated from Latin), the cultural backgrounds to the texts and possible reasons why they are written in Italian. An additional question concerning the existence of people in Medieval Sweden who were able to read and understand Italian texts is discussed. The importance of the extension of the Italian language in the Mediterranean area as well as in the Levant is referred to as an explanation of the use of Italian in the documents. Important motives of the fact that some of the documents are being found in the Swedish archive are the activities of the Swedish Expeditions to the Vatican library as well as the life of Bridget of Sweden, who played an outstanding role in the political, cultural and political life in Europe in the fourteenth century. A short background to the studies at the Studio of Siena of a number of Swedish students is given and also to the foundation of the University of Uppsala. The study is concluded by presenting an evaluation of the ten documents.

Abstract The purpose of this study is to introduce the ten documents, written in the Italian language, registered by Riksarkivet, Stockholm. The oldest document being written in 1346 and the last one in 1520, they all belong to the European medieval period. The study provides the texts (sometimes contracted, sometimes partly translated from Latin), the cultural backgrounds to the texts and possible reasons why they are written in Italian. An additional question concerning the existence of people in Medieval Sweden who were able to read and understand Italian texts is discussed. The importance of the extension of the Italian language in the Mediterranean area as well as in the Levant is referred to as an explanation of the use of Italian in the documents. Important motives of the fact that some of the documents are being found in the Swedish archive are the activities of the Swedish Expeditions to the Vatican library as well as the life of Bridget of Sweden, who played an outstanding role in the political, cultural and political life in Europe in the fourteenth century. A short background to the studies at the Studio of Siena of a number of Swedish students is given and also to the foundation of the University of Uppsala. The study is concluded by presenting an evaluation of the ten documents.