Orlando Furioso is a brilliantly crafted epic poem by Ludovico Ariosto. It serves as a witty parody of the chivalric legends surrounding Charlemagne and the Saracen invasion of France. This unabridged prose translation captures the entire narrative and the subtle meanings behind it.

In a kaleidoscope of scenes and emotions, three principal stories unfold: the love of Orlando for Angelica; the war between the Franks and the Saracens; and the love of Ruggiero, a Saracen, for Bradamant, a Christian. Enlivening and unifying the work is the vibrant personality of Ariosto himself, who teases his readers and offers casual asides about his contemporaries.

Despite its serious purpose and sophisticated design, Orlando Furioso displays Ariosto's remarkable sense of the absurd, making it a fitting monument to the court society of the Italian Renaissance.