Guillon's analysis of the Roman de la Rose sheds new light on the political and cultural milieu of late medieval France. Through a close reading of this influential work of literature, Guillon reveals the complex interplay between courtly love and political power at the time of the reign of Philip IV (1285-1314). He argues that the Roman de la Rose is not only a masterpiece of French literature but also an essential document for understanding the political and intellectual history of the period. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.