Edward Gallagher's fluent prose translations of the Lays are accompanied by a lucid introduction that discusses what we know of their author, the period in which she wrote, the lay as a literary genre, taxonomies of the Lays, the theme of love, and the author's narrative technique. Short commentaries discuss themes, symbols and motifs and point to parallels between and among the twelve lays. This volume also includes a map, a glossary of proper names, a glossary of specialized terms, and appendices providing translations of two anonymous Breton lays—Melion and Tyolet—as well as the original Old French versions of Marie's Prologue, Guigemar, Bisclavret, and Yonec.