This is a major reassessment of the relation between the medieval French chansons de geste and the romance genre. Drawing on ideas from anthropology and psychoanalysis, it argues that the chansons de geste are political fictions, exploring political problems such as oppression and violence.

In particular, Kay contends that romance brings with it new forms of sexism and patriarchy - forms much closer to those of the present - and that these need to be read against the politics of sexual difference inscribed in chansons de geste.