Proverbs in Medieval Occitan Literature is the first analysis in English of the use of proverbial materials in the literature of southern France from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Wendy Pfeffer argues that proverbs are important in troubadour literature for what they tell us about troubadour training, troubadour audiences, and the mentality of southern France during this period. Pfeffer shows that the proverbial material of troubadour literature indicates a different level of literacy in its audience than has been previously assumed. She also demonstrates the hitherto unappreciated formal aspects of troubadour works and the surprisingly broad range of source material incorporated in them.