The Canterbury Tales: Geoffrey Chaucer (Penguin Classics)

A classic book

This Everyman's Library edition of The Canterbury Tales is published in as near to Geoffrey Chaucer's own words as the known manuscripts allow. Edited by A C Cawley, during his time as Professor of English and Medieval Literature in the University of Leeds, this edition was first published in 1958 and stands as one of the best editions of the Tales. Whilst later translations give the gist of the stories in modern language, the student of Medieval English will find this edition of great help in understanding the nuances of Chaucer's meanings to some words, some of which can be lost in translation to modern English. Begun in 1387, in what would have been considered to be Chaucer's old age, in medieval times; we can almost feel ourselves being jostled and cajoled by our companions as we walk the Pilgrims Way from London to Canterbury towards the shrine of Thomas Becket. All the while listening to the fables of farce, courtly love and stories of sexual shenanigans as we stop and replenish ourselves along the route. This 600 page edition includes the Prologue, a chronology of contemporaneous events, notes on pronunciation and a bibliography. Worthy of inclusion on your bookshelves. Another reprinting of this edition would be welcomed.

A book I always wanted to read. Struggled to make sense of some of the language

Excellent customer service and a great version of The Canterbury Tales.

Good

Very hard to read as it in old English. But if you persevere you will get the gist but still hard going.hence 3 stars.

Thankfully a modern typeface print of Chaucers Prologue to the Canebury Tales. It is heavily illustrated throughout by various artists and with several pages of the original manuscript (you can see why I say thankfullyfor the moder typeface from these pages. he other illusrtrations compliment the text and give a feeling for the way of life and dress of the time. It also contains at the end of the book a notes section giving a modern translation of some of the more unusual words and sayings. There are many publications of the full works but for the illustrations alone it worth the purchase, the middle english text is a bonus and reads so much better than a modern translation, one you get you tongue around the pronuciation. Go on bye it you wont be disapointed

Great value