A new translation of two medieval Spanish versions of the story of Apollonius, a narrative central to the imagination of pre-modern literature and a source of inspiration for Shakespeare's work "PERICLES." Family relationships, riddles, piracy, prostitution, shipwreck, Lazarus-style revival, and mesmerizing musical performances—the tale of King Apollonius and his adventures, with its thrilling plot twists, has been told and retold in many languages since late antiquity.

Apollonius, who is not the conventional hero of romance, proves his worth not in battle but through knowledge, athletics, music, and nobility. The also studious and noble heroines of the romantic story—Luciana and Tharsia, the wife and daughter of Apollonius—embark on their own adventures before reuniting with the family. Throughout the narrative, the king's trials present a Christian allegory of fortune.

The two versions in Castilian are included in "Iberian Apollonius of Tyre." The poetic work of the 13th century known as "The Book of Apollonius," a creative adaptation by an unknown cleric, focuses on Apollonius as a guest and Christianizes the narrative. The prose of the 15th century "Life and History of King Apollonius," a highly literal translation of the Latin text of Gesta Romanorum by an anonymous Aragonese translator, is representative of vernacular humanism and connects to the genre of the short chivalric tale.

This edition presents new editions and English translations of these two complete, autonomous medieval Spanish versions of the ancient tradition.