A new volume by Anna Cappellotto explores the rich literary tradition surrounding Theoderic of Verona, better known in medieval German literature as Dietrich von Bern.

From poems and ballads to heroic epics and sagas, the book traces the many transformations of a figure whose legend circulated widely across medieval Europe. Dietrich emerges as a complex and multifaceted hero: an exiled ruler fighting to regain his rightful kingdom, but also a warrior drawn into extraordinary adventures.

At the heart of the volume is the Dietrich epic (Dietrichepik), a remarkably rich tradition transmitted for centuries in manuscripts and printed books. Moving across languages, genres and media, the legend of Theoderic of Verona offers a fascinating example of the enduring power of medieval storytelling and its continued reinvention up to the present day.