The Faerie Queene — Volume 01
- First published
- 1590
- Reading level
- Fairly demanding
- Price
- Free
About the book
"The Faerie Queene — Volume 01" by Edmund Spenser is an epic poem first published in 1590. This monumental allegorical work follows knights on quests to embody different virtues—Holiness, Temperance, and Chastity. Each knight faces temptations, enchantments, and monsters while pursuing their noble purposes. Written to praise Queen Elizabeth I and "fashion a gentleman" in virtuous discipline, the poem weaves together romance, adventure, and moral allegory across thousands of stanzas, creating one of the longest and most ambitious works in English literature.
- English poetry
- Knights and knighthood
- Virtues
Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #6930. The Faerie Queene — Volume 01 on Wikipedia.
More free books by Edmund Spenser
About Edmund SpenserSpenser's The Faerie Queene, Book I
Stories from the Faerie Queene
Spenser's Faerie Queene, Vol. 1 (of 2)
The Poetical Works of Edmund Spenser, Volume 5
The Shepheard's Calender
Spenser's Faerie Queene, Vol. 2 (of 2)
Stories from the Faerie Queen, Told to the Children
Tales from Spenser, Chosen from the Faerie Queene
