Eugène Vinaver
Encyclopedia
Eugène Vinaver was a literary scholar who is best-known today for his edition of the works of Sir Thomas Malory.
Vinaver was born June 18, 1899 in Saint-Petersburg, the son of Russian lawyer and politician, Maxim Vinaver, who emigrated to France in 1919. Eugene Vinaver studied in École pratique des hautes études
where he was a pupil of Joseph Bedier
. From the late 1920s, he lived in England (one of his teachers was Mildred Pope
)and in 1933 he was appointed Professor of French Language and Literature at the University of Manchester
. He received his doctorate from Oxford University in 1950.
In 1928, Eugene Vinaver founded in Oxford the Arthurian society, which published two volumes under the title Arthuriana (1929, 1930). This society was renamed Society for the study of the medieval languages and literatures. Arthuriana became Medium Aevum. In 1948, the International Arthurian Society was organized by Eugène Vinaver and Jean Frappier.
In 1947, Eugène Vinaver published a new edition of Malory's Morte d'Arthur, based on the XVth century Winchester Manuscript
which W.F. Oakeshott had discovered in the Fellows' Library at Winchester College
in 1934. He noted the structural differences between the text in the manuscript and Caxton's edition of Morte d'Arthur, such as chapter headings and divisions, and wording changes.
In addition to his interest in Arthurian legend, Professor Vinaver was also a recognised authority on Racine
and Flaubert.
Vinaver was a correspondent member of the British Academy
and the Medieval Academy of America
, a foreign member of Académie royale de langue et de littérature française of Belgium.
Vinaver died on July 21, 1979.
Vinaver was born June 18, 1899 in Saint-Petersburg, the son of Russian lawyer and politician, Maxim Vinaver, who emigrated to France in 1919. Eugene Vinaver studied in École pratique des hautes études
École pratique des hautes études
The École pratique des hautes études is a Grand Établissement in Paris, France. It is counted among France's most prestigious research and higher education institutions....
where he was a pupil of Joseph Bedier
Joseph Bédier
Joseph Bédier was a French writer and scholar and historian of medieval France.-Biography:Bédier was born in Paris, France to Adolphe Bédier, a lawyer of Breton origin, and spent his childhood in Réunion. He was a professor of medieval French literature at the Université de Fribourg, Switzerland ...
. From the late 1920s, he lived in England (one of his teachers was Mildred Pope
Mildred Pope
Mildred Katherine Pope was an English scholar of Anglo-Norman England. She became the first woman to hold a readership at Oxford University.-Biography:...
)and in 1933 he was appointed Professor of French Language and Literature at the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
. He received his doctorate from Oxford University in 1950.
In 1928, Eugene Vinaver founded in Oxford the Arthurian society, which published two volumes under the title Arthuriana (1929, 1930). This society was renamed Society for the study of the medieval languages and literatures. Arthuriana became Medium Aevum. In 1948, the International Arthurian Society was organized by Eugène Vinaver and Jean Frappier.
In 1947, Eugène Vinaver published a new edition of Malory's Morte d'Arthur, based on the XVth century Winchester Manuscript
Le Morte d'Arthur
Le Morte d'Arthur is a compilation by Sir Thomas Malory of Romance tales about the legendary King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, and the Knights of the Round Table...
which W.F. Oakeshott had discovered in the Fellows' Library at Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
in 1934. He noted the structural differences between the text in the manuscript and Caxton's edition of Morte d'Arthur, such as chapter headings and divisions, and wording changes.
In addition to his interest in Arthurian legend, Professor Vinaver was also a recognised authority on Racine
Jean Racine
Jean Racine , baptismal name Jean-Baptiste Racine , was a French dramatist, one of the "Big Three" of 17th-century France , and one of the most important literary figures in the Western tradition...
and Flaubert.
Vinaver was a correspondent member of the British Academy
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
and the Medieval Academy of America
Medieval Academy of America
The Medieval Academy of America is the largest organization in the United States promoting excellence in the field of medieval studies. It was founded in 1925 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts...
, a foreign member of Académie royale de langue et de littérature française of Belgium.
Vinaver died on July 21, 1979.
Works
- Form and Meaning in Medieval Romance, 1966
- À la recherche d'une poétique médiévale, 1970
- The Rise of Romance, 1971