The Romance of the Rose, The Continuation

Jean de Meung, born Jean Clopinel or Chopinel around 1240AD in Meung-sur-Loire, France, emerged as a prominent author in the late 13th century. He is most renowned for his work on Le Roman de la Rose, a continuation of the narrative started by Guillaume de Lorris. Tradition holds that he studied at the University of Paris and was an advocate for Guillaume de Saint-Amour, known for his criticisms of mendicant orders.

Spending most of his life in Paris, Jean de Meung owned a property in Rue Saint-Jacques - later given to the Dominicans by Adam d’Andely, after Jean’s death around 1305AD. He was interred in the now-demolished church of the Dominican monastery in Paris.

His lengthy addition to and development of Guillaume de Lorris’ “Le Roman de la Rose”, is believed to have been composed between 1268 and 1285AD. Jean’s continuation is marked by its satirical tone, targeting monastic orders, celibacy, the nobility, the papacy, royalty, and particularly women and marriage. His work contrasts with Guillaume de Lorris’s romantic and courteous approach, instead embodying a more sceptical and mocking spirit. Jean’s command of the French language, and his incorporation of a vast array of contemporary knowledge and classical references, contributed significantly to the poem’s popularity.

Apart from “Le Roman de la Rose”, he translated several works into French from the Latin, including Vegetius’s “De re militari” and the letters of Abélard and Héloïse. His translations were influential, with annotations by various poets, including Petrarch. His final works, “Testament” and “Codicille,” offer social advice and reflect his literary prowess.

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