Günter de Bruyn presents the story of Tristan and Isolde, the classic love couple of Middle High German literature, in a poetic retelling. It is the tale of Tristan, who travels to Ireland for King Mark and must face numerous adventures and battles, and of Isolde, whom he must court for King Mark and who loves Tristan and is loved by him, even though she becomes King Mark's wife. Tristan and Isolde, sung by Gottfried von Strassburg in the 13th century and elevated to operatic heroes by Richard Wagner, were the first couple in German literary history to defy the laws of courtly society in the name of a higher morality. Günter de Bruyn tells their story, which is rooted in ancient legends, based on the unfinished verse epic by Gottfried von Strassburg and the events that unfolded twenty years after Gottfried's death.