The first masterpiece of French literature, The Song Of Roland, was written in the Middle Ages. It is based on an historical incident in Charlemagne's retreat from Spain in 778.This is a great French epic poem of the Middle Ages. If one enjoys suspense, intense drama, riveting action, chivalry, battles, and honor, then one would most surely enjoy this well written and famous epic of Western Canon. One could easily understand how this song was sung and told from generation to generation by Europeans. As usual, Sayers writes good background info about the epic.