Product Description
Referring to Chaucer as "the major literary artist in the English language" aside from Shakespeare, Harold Bloom examines The Canterbury Tales. Also in this edition, Bloom specifically examines "Knight's Tale" and "Wife of Bath's Tale" along with its prologue.

Also featured is a comprehensive biography of Geoffrey Chaucer, a user's guide, detailed plot summaries of each novel, extracts from important critical essays, a complete bibliography of Chaucer's works, an index of themes and ideas, and editor's notes and introduction by Harold Bloom.This series, Bloom's Major Poets, is edited by Harold Bloom, Sterling Professor of the Humanities, Yale University; Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Professor of English, New York University Graduate School; preeminent literary critic of our time. ... Read more

Product Description
One of the greatest and most ambitious works in English literature, The Canterbury Tales depicts a storytelling competition between pilgrims drawn from all ranks of society.

The tales are as various as the pilgrims themselves, encompassing comedy, pathos, tragedy, and cynicism. The Miller and the Reeve express their mutual antagonism in a pair of comic stories combining sex and trickery; in "The Shipman’s Tale," a wife sells her favors to a monk. Others draw on courtly romance and fantasy: the Knight tells of rivals competing for the love of the same woman, and the Squire describes a princess who can speak to birds. In these twenty-four tales, Chaucer displays a dazzling range of literary styles and conjures up a wonderfully vivid picture of medieval life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Unbeatable
The Kindle Penguin edition of THE CANTERBURY TALES in the original Middle English cannot be beaten at the price. Every non-modern word is defined in a note, sometimes at the rate of three definitions a line.

Download a sample to see how the lines look. They're quite readable on the Kindle though often they have to be bent in two because of their length. You'll have to trust me that the definitions are good: they are, but you can't get to them on the sample.

But for 95 cents, hey. Complete, and with a good introduction. The notes are well-linked and easy to get to once you have the complete etext.

A quarter of the book is language notes, word definitions. Another quarter is historical and social notes. These are keyed into the language notes, but you'll have to get to them by using a bookmark in the notes. They're quite thorough and helpful.

I'd have bought this edition at ten times the price, like a shot. Fanatical Kindle user that I am, I think the printed text would be slightly easier to handle, but you'd need two bookmarks there, so maybe not.

Good Middle English version of The Canterbury Tales
This edition is good for anyone looking to read the Canterbury Tales in the original Middle English.The notes are very details and helpful and the glosses at the bottom of the pages are helpful too.Some of the glosses are a little obvious, but that it to be expected.

Over all this is a good edition if you are interested in reading a very popular work in it's original language.

Amazon Rocks Middle English!
I was worried when I couldn't find my texts for My Medeival Literature class, However, Amazon pulled through. Thanks Amazon

Definitely the best Middle English edition of the Canterbury Tales
This is the best edition of the Canterbury Tales on the market, by far. Here are the main reasons why:

1. It's complete; many other editions (such as the Norton) only include a "selection" of tales. But if you know the Canterbury Tales you know that almost all of them are good (or at least interesting) and you miss some great tales when you don't get them all. I've found that even the allegedly "bad" tales are still really good, not to mention that the tales work together in various ways (arguing, dialoguing, etc.) so you need to read them all to get the whole experience.
2. It's readable; the size of type, font, and the overall layout make for a very comfortable reading experience. The Riverside Chaucer, for example, besides being an expensive monstrosity, also has really small type in double-column format (this can be discouraging, in my opinion; it takes a lot of reading before you get to turn the page). Plus, the footnotes are on the bottom of each page so you can get help if you need it, but not have it distract you if you don't.
3. It's cheap; enough said.
4. It has endnotes; this edition has copious endnotes that are very up-to-date, in-depth, and have numerous references to the vast history of Chaucer criticism for further study. Jill Mann, the editor, is a very well-respected Chaucerian and she does an excellent job of making the endnotes readable and valuable so they are useful to both Chaucer beginners and experts.
5. It's in Middle English; don't be daunted by Chaucer's Middle English. It's surprisingly easy to read once you get the hang of it and it's infinitely more beautiful and elegant than a modern translation. It easily provides the same kind of reading pleasures as Spenser, Shakespeare, or Milton, and is not any more difficult than them. With this edition, because of the convenience of the notes and easy-read typeface, you'll find it that much more easy to pick up the Middle English than with any other edition.

Kindle formatting corrected
EDIT (08/18/2010): The Kindle formatting of this edition has been corrected, so the following criticism no longer applies.

The Kindle version of the Penguin "Canterbury Tales" edited by Jill Mann has very bad formatting.Though the text is sprinkled with useful notes that appear to have links to allow them to be accessed, it is not possible to click on a note indication because the entire text is treated as though it were an image.I hope the publisher will correct this formatting problem, as this appears to be quite a useful edition. ... Read more

Product Description
In the first in a new series of brief biographies, bestselling author Peter Ackroyd brilliantly evokes the medieval world of England and provides an incomparable introduction to the great poet’s works.

Geoffrey Chaucer, who died in 1400, lived a surprisingly eventful life. He served with the Duke of Clarence and with Edward III, and in 1359 was taken prisoner in France and ransomed. Through his wife, Philippa, he gained the patronage of John of Gaunt, which helped him carve out a career at Court. His posts included Controller of Customs at the Port of London, Knight of the Shire for Kent, and King's Forester. He went on numerous adventurous diplomatic missions to France and Italy. Yet he was also indicted for rape, sued for debt, and captured in battle.

He began to write in the 1360s, and is now known as the father of English poetry. His Troilus and Criseyde is the first example of modern English literature, and his masterpiece, The Canterbury Tales, the forerunner of the English novel, dominated the last part of his life.

In his lively style, Peter Ackroyd, one of the most acclaimed biographers and novelists writing today, brings us an eye-opening portrait, rich in drama and colorful historical detail, of a prolific, multifaceted genius. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A great thing in a little package
Geoffrey Chaucer, most famously the author of "The Canterbury Tales," is a challenge to modern day profilers in search of the kind of detail that fills steamer trunk sized biographies.The 14th century England in which he breathed was a long, long time ago, in a far-off turbulent galaxy at that.Yet, he left behind a remarkable contribution to literary tradition, one that continues to hold influence and pleasure, and his emergent literate and litigious culture left behind enough public records to save him from total obscurity.Peter Ackroyd, known for novels and more voluminous biographies, here creates in CHAUCER a concise yet multidimensional and very satisfying look at the man and his achievement.

Even without his literary legacy, Chaucer bears attention because of what he represents of the changing medieval English social structure.A member of the merchant class, he was able to move into the royal circle, signaling the monarchs' reliance on commerce.Before he came to moonlight as the favorite court poet, he was a talented negotiator sent abroad and it was during a fortuitous sojourn in Italy that he encountered the literary models of Dante, Petrarch and Boccaccio that he would internalize and make uniquely his and England's own new vision.

Working with what is definitely known and leaving guess work to others, Ackroyd offers an agile, chronological review of Chaucer's works and the events of his life, forming a vivid picture of an artist's growing awareness of the possibilities of art and his role in fulfilling them.It is good historical reading, it is fine critical reading and it is delightfully intelligent general reading rendered in a firm and graceful voice.This is supposed to be the first of a series of "brief lives" by Ackroyd and on the basis of CHAUCER, I'm signing up to read them all.

Chaucer: Ackroyd's Brief Lives
This is a very informative book.I knew very little about Geoffery Chaucer before reading this book. I was surprise to find out the he was more than just a poet.Overall, I was pleased.

A wonderfully concise biography...
... and history of the late 14th century.Ackroyd is more than just an excellent writer and distiller of information.He is clearly well-versed in the significance of Chaucer's writings and impact upon English literature.I am one who greatly appreciates the fact that many lives can be elegantly presented in under 800 pages.Ackroyd proves this point, bringing his slim volume in at 175 pages.Generally, something would have to give in this smaller dosage, either Chaucer's other writings or a sense of the historical time in which the subject lived.Both, however were well presented, creating a rich tapestry of a time long ago. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Useful book with a very misleading title - read this before you buy
Contrary to what the title says, there is not a single work of Chaucer's in this entire volume. The texts of Chaucer's works appear in volume II, and this is volume I.

What volume I contains is a fine collection of linguistic tools useful in reading and analyzing Chaucer's works, including guides to pronunciation, grammar, and versification. A sizable glossary of Middle English comprises the largest part of the book. I already had a such a glossary, but am happy to keep this book, since I believe it will be very useful when I someday settle down to read more Chaucer in a serious way. (Shipping costs from Taiwan also make it silly to even consider returning a book.)

This volume was apparently printed from a photocopy of the 1894 Oxford Clarendon press edition of Skeat's work. In spite of occasional little black specks on the page, the printing quality is acceptable and the text is easily legible. Because the copyright has obviously run out on this work, you can find it online for free. But it's certainly worth it to get a nicely printed and bound edition - printing out pages one by one usually doesn't represent any savings, and is inconvenient to say the least.

So, if you want a book of solid early scholarship on Chaucer's works, and you don't want to print it out yourself from the Internet, great - buy this reprint. If you are looking for the complete works of Chaucer, this is NOT it! Try the Complete Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, Part 2 edition instead.
... Read more

Product Description
Here are tales told by members from all parts of English society of the 14th century, reflecting on life as they travel the road from Southwark to Canterbury. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Happy Customer
I received my book quickly and it was in great condition. I would buy from them again!

Chaucer
For the average reader ogf Chaucer, this is a suberb read...for ther schoilar there are better choices..but you can't go wrong with this one

This is not the Canterbury Tales!
This is a retelling of the Canterbury Tales, very simplified...in some cases leaving out the best parts!I believe it may have been originally intended safe for children.

If you're looking for a translation into modern English, keep looking.I am.

Teacher's Delight
Finally, help in getting children to comprehending and enjoy the art of Old English Ballads and the historical value of the storyteller.

Fun to read
If you want a modern english version that's funny and easy to read, this is the book for you. If you are looking for something scholarly and/or more difficult to read, get a different version.
... Read more

Product Description
This Norton Critical Edition includes the most admired of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. Each is presented in the original language, with normalized spelling and substantial annotations for modern readers. Among the new added to the Second Edition are the much-requested "Merchant's Tale" and the "Tale of Sir Thopas."

"Sources and Backgrounds" are included for the General Prologue and for most of the tales, enabling students to understand The Canterbury Tales in light of relevant medieval ideas and attitudes and inviting comparison between Chaucer's work and his sources.

"Criticism" includes nine essays, four of them new to this edition, by leading Chaucerians, among them F. R. H. DuBoulay, E. Talbot Donaldson, Barbara Nolani, and Lee Patterson.

A Chronology and Selected Bibliography are also included.

About the Series: No other series of classic texts equals the caliber of the Norton Critical Editions. Each volume combines the most authoritative text available with the comprehensive pedagogical apparatus necessary to appreciate the work fully. Careful editing, first-rate translation, and thorough explanatory annotations allow each text to meet the highest literary standards while remaining accessible to students. Each edition is printed on acid-free paper and every text in the series remains in print. Norton Critical Editions are the choice for excellence in scholarship for students at more than 2,000 universities worldwide. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

The Canterbury Tales
I finally took the time to read one of the classics of English literature and can only say it should be required reading for all people interested in literature.

A wonderful pilgrimage
Writing a "review" of The Canterbury Tales is difficult, not because the book/collection isn't worthy of a review, but because it is so widely variant and has so many nuances to be discussed.

For those who don't know, The Canterbury Tales is a book containing a bunch of stories told by individuals traveling together on a pilgrimage to Canterbury.The book is written in the late 1300s with the pilgrimage set in the same basic time.It begins with a "General Prologue" providing a description of each of the characters in the group as well as the "game" they'll be playing (that of telling stories on the way to Canterbury).Each pilgrim tells a different tale (well, not "all" of them...the work is "unfinished" in the sense that we're missing tales from some pilgrims).Some tales are set in their contemporary England while others are set in exotic lands, romantic settings, or ancient cultures.

So what do you say in a brief review of The Canterbury Tales?

To start with, I would suggest you try reading it in the original Middle English.The language/spelling/pronunciation can be a problem, so be sure you get an edition that's glossed (unless you're proficient in Middle English).During the semester, I found a "children's" edition of the tales at my local library.It included Modern English "translations" of a couple of the tales along with some illustrations.It was kind of fun to read, but it lost some of the rhythm and drive of the tales by having them in a modern format.

Secondly, there are some bits that can be skipped, but it's difficult to identify which ones.For example, some might suggest that the entire Pardoner's Prologue (and much of his tale) can be ignored altogether and that you should just focus on the actual "tale" part of his tale.While his tale is entertaining and the reading would be much shorter if that's all you read, you would miss a TON of social and religious commentary which is very interesting.Similarly, the Wife of Bath has lengthy rambling passages in her Prologue and the Merchant includes numerous lengthy lists that have little bearing on the plot.It's difficult to create a good synopsis of what can safely be skipped, because it depends in a large extent on what you want to get out of it.Worse still, if you're reading in the unfamiliar Middle English, it's harder to quickly scan the text and get a feel for when the narrative has gotten back to the 'heart of the matter.'

The writing is fun and clever (once you get through the 'translation' issues with the Middle English).For a common reference, it's like reading Shakespeare, only more archaic by a couple hundred years.The language of the narrative varies depending on the narrator of the particular prologue/tale, but with Chaucer at the helm behind the scenes, the writing is generally very good, descriptive, layered, humorous, inspiring, etc. (except for when he's trying to illustrate 'bad writing', and then it's good in that it's so bad).

The messages presented are widely varied as well.The Knight's Tale was an intriguing tale of romance and chivalry with lots of courtly intrigue...but at times it felt a little dry.The Miller and the Reeve were hilarious tales and introduced me to a new (to me) genre in the fabliau.The Wife of Bath had an interesting prologue and a fun tale, again with a semi-romantic style and an interesting moral.The Nun's Priest gave us a fun little animal fable.The Prioress presented a strange little tale about miracles or anti-semitism or devout love or something else?

Overall, I would definitely recommend having a copy of The Canterbury Tales on your shelf.Some tales are easier to read than others.Some tales are more fun while others are more thought provoking (as stated in one of the prologues, a tale has one of two purposes, to educate or to entertain...and there are examples of each). Once you get your teeth into the language (probably the biggest hurdle) I suspect you'll enjoy these.

*****
5 stars

Music to the ear
Why the Norton edition -- which preserves these tales in their original Middle English dialect -- over the "translated" versions of Chaucer's classic stories? Because it's only in their original form that they retain the poetry and power of Chaucer's intent. I read these stories with a professor who could passably read Middle English and it was a revelation. Before, with translated versions, I had never quite understood why Chaucer was considered so great, so necessary to the canon. Hearing them in the original form, I suddenly understood. The tales are funny, dirty, odd stories (like an English version of "The Decameron") told in striking, blood-stirring rhyme and rhythm. Hearing them read aloud was like music to the ear. Which makes the smoothed-over versions feel flat and dead to the ear.

Buy this edition. Try to learn enough Middle English to get along. Discover for yourself the power of Chaucer's poetry.

Just what I hoped for
Critical editions from Norton have demonstrated they are usually the best for me. ... Read more

Product Description
David Wright's new translation of The Canterbury Talesinto modern verse--the first to appear in over thirtyyears--makes one of the greatest works of Englishliterature accessible to all readers while preservingthe wit and vivacity of Chaucer's original text. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Kindle edition is badly formatted
This might well be a great read. However, the Kindle edition is so badly formatted as to make it almost unreadable. It looks as if the text has been scanned in as pictures and the resulting font size is so small as to necessitate using a magnifying glass. Definitely not suitable for older readers who need reading glasses.

Some Tall Tales...
As soon as I cracked open this monstrous book I was delighted by the lyrical way in which the stories were written although it did take some getting used to. Chaucer's Canterbury Tales is a collection of tales told by pilgrims on the way to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket. To pass the time they have a contest amongst themselves to see who can tell the best tale. What follows are tales told by each character, some being better than others.
Ones I enjoyed:

* The Knight's Tale which tells the story of two brothers from another kingdom who are captured, imprisoned, and fall in love with the same woman who they spy from their cell. What follows is a contest to see who will win the love of the fair Emelye.

*The Clerk's Tale which tells the story of a local noble who when told he can marry whomever he wants decides up Griselde, a poor but beautiful peasant. The noble tests her love and loyalty by sending away their children and by pretending he is going to cast her aside and marry another.

* The Prioress's Tale which tells of a young Christian boy who attends school in the Jewish Ghetto. Every day he walks to school singing a certain hymn he loves. The Jews decide to murder the boy so they don't have to hear him sing anymore but the mother is able to locate the murdered boy when his corpse continues to sing the song.

Ones that were ok:

* The Reeve's Tale tells the story of an unscrupulous Miller who tries to steal the corn two local men bring him to grind. To accomplish this, the Miller unties their horse and they don't catch it until nightfall and are forced to spend the night in the Miller's house. One man seduces the Miller's daughter while the other seduces his wife. When this is discovered a fight ensues but in an effort to help her husband defeat the men, the wife accidentally knocks her husband out instead. The men get their corn back and flee.


* The Wife of Bath's Tale tells the story of a young knight who rapes a local girl. To give him a chance to save his life, the Queen sends him on a quest to find out what women really want. He comes across an old woman who agrees to tell him the correct answer if he promises to do whatever she wants. She tells him and her price is marriage. The knight is grossed out having to marry and old crone so she gives him a choice to either have a beautiful and unfaithful wife or an old and faithful one. He tells her to choose and because he left the choice to her she uses magic to make herself beautiful and she remains faithful.

And one that even literally bored me to sleep:

* The Tale of Melibee- a group of Melibee's enemies storm his house and mutilate his daughter. He acts rashly at first but when confronted by his wife Prudence he agrees to put the punishment of the offending men in her hands. She delivers a lengthy counsel referencing several scholars and Bible verses on why the husband should act a certain way and why he should not take certain actions. I just could not through all the "For so and so says (insert wise advice here).

Overall I enjoyed the tales but after awhile it became much more difficult to read. Several of Chaucer's tales tell of unfaithful women and a few stories even revolve entire around farting. There is only so much promiscuity and flatulence I can take before I get bored of it ;)

Also some of the stories are unfinished or the narrator stops the character from telling the story and moves on to another character's tale which is kind of jarring. Still I liked the variety and I have to admire the fact that Chaucer wrote something in the 14th century that is still entertaining today.

Very Good Condition
When I recieved the book it was in great condition, and I got the book fast. Thanks again!

Chaucer Pilgrimage Poems Resonate in Today's World
Oxford World Classics - This is a superb edition - probably the best I have read. The writings tell a story about thirty travelers who are on a journey to show their gratitude to the martyr who helped them in their times of great need. The themes in Geoffrey Chaucer's 14th century "poem-stories" (Chaucer's "magnum opus") is a poignant critique of his society - its elite, its faithful, the Church, and the petty, self-seving, but crumbling conventions embraced by people surrounding him.The unifying concepts of the series of poems is pilgrimage, decay of social norms (i.e. Chivalry), and religion.

After the Black Death, Europeans started to question the authority of the Church. Chaucer uses two characters, the Pardoner and the Summoner, whose roles are to apply the Church's secular power, are deeply corrupt, greedy, and nasty. A pardoner in Chaucer's day was a person from whom one bought Church "indulgences" for forgiveness of sins, but pardoners were often thought guilty of abusing their office for their own gain. Chaucer's Pardoner openly admits the corruption of his practice. The Summoner is a Church officer who brought sinners to the church court for possible excommunication and other penalties. Corrupt summoners wrote false reports and scared people into bribing them in order to protect their interests. Chaucer's Summoner is portrayed as guilty of the very kinds of sins he is threatening to bring others to court for, and appears to have a corrupt relationship with the Pardoner. In The Friar's Tale, one of the characters is a summoner who is shown to be working on the side of the Satin. This parallels curruption we see today in organized religion, manifesting itself both through more conventional medium, and television, Internet, etc.Decay of values portrayed by Chaucer is applicable to Westen society's transcending values, not only in the Sartian sense, but almost to the point of nihilism, entirely devoid of dignity or accountability.
Pilgrimage was a very prominent feature of medieval society. Travel to exotic destinations is the modern day pilgrimage.The ultimate pilgrimage destination was Jerusalem, but within England Canterbury was a popular destination. Pilgrims would journey to cathedrals that preserved relics of saints, believing that such relics held miraculous powers. Saint Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, had been murdered in Canterbury cathedral by knights of Henry II during a disagreement between Church and Crown. Miracle stories tied to his remains surfaced soon after his death, and the cathedral became a popular pilgrimage destination. The pilgrimage in the work ties all of the stories together, and may be considered a representation of Christians' striving for heaven, despite weaknesses, disagreement, and diversity of opinion.In our society it is a way to detox, but also to start a new life, as is the case with immigrants.

The Canterbury Tales
Excellent translation.

Frequent problems with Kindle edition however. The font/type size does not remain constant.

Kindle was purchased due to my very poor vision and I must use the largest possible size available.
Unfortunately, when a new page is advanced it will frequently appear smaller than the previous page and at least one size smaller.This is very inconsistent and unpredictable and very annoying. There seems to be no 'fix' for this.

If this continues on other books this Kindle will be returned to Amazon.com for a full refund. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

The perfect antidote to a grueling semester
It was a long semester, so when I managed to reach the end of the term with no student essays to grade or committee reports to write, I planned to devote a day to things non-academic, say a massage and pedicure.Then, quite happily, I picked up my copy of *Geoffrey Chaucer Hath a Blog*, and I'm happy to report that the laughter it triggered provided the perfect antidote to the semester's travails.As a result, I just might skip that massage and pedicure.

The book is based on the hilarious blog, "Geoffrey Chaucer Hath a Blog."I admit to being a long-time, avid reader of the blog, and I think you'd be hard pressed to find a Chaucerian who is not.Inaddition to presenting the best of the blog entries, the book includes essays which put the blog in context.

The blog entries themselves are funny. Very funny.They "explore connections between Chaucer's literary and historical background and the obsessions of contemporary popular culture."Thus, travel to the Medieval Congress at Kalamazoo, Michigan, prompts our blogger to provide a list of pick up lines for one of the notorious wine socials sponsored by OVP (Oxford Vniversity Press).Or a spate of email spam triggers parodies with a pitch-perfect congruence of 21st- and 14th-century vices.Or the MLA--with its attendant job interviews, academic paper presentations, anxious graduate students, and pompous professors--becomes Margery Kempe's penitential destination while on one of her hapless pilgrimages.

Some might claim that GCHB relies too heavily on insider knowledge of the profession. Or that the Chaucer Blogger's universe--whether in the 14th or 21st century--is narrowly defined by the academic interests of late-medieval scholars. I would not.In fact, that is one of the book's virtues.It deflates many of the values we hold hear--and skewers the knowledge, skills, and activities that most have made great sacrifices to acquire.Moreover, much of the book's delight comes from the bi-cultural decoding each entry requires.For instance, Christine de Pizan opens her post chastising Geoffrey with "WTS!" To understand this exclamation, the reader has to be aware of the contemporary texting abbreviation, "WTF," and the Middle English word for sexual copulation, "swyve."Such tidbits are scattered throughout the posting, and all prompt cheerful glee.

If you have any interest in things medieval, you just might find this book the perfect antidote to whatever ails you.

Rare scholarship
As any Chaucerian scholar knows, Geoffrey Chaucer was the greatest master of irony and understated wit in all literature; he had a superb eye for detail and his stories master an enormous variety of genres.More so than with other literary masters, I suggest that Chaucerian scholarship appropriately should mix careful observation with humor, an awareness of our own absurdity, and a delight in the play of language.Geoffrey Chaucer Hath a Blog does just that, exploring the current state of scholarship (with a proper nod to the famed International Congress of Medieval Studies at Western Michigan University) even as the authors compose new works in faux-Middle English, ranging from the mock envy of a modern John Gower's "Why Ye Should Nat Rede This Booke," to "A Pyrates Lyf for Chaucer" and "Serpentes on a Shippe," an hilarious send-up of Snakes on a Plane.Our pyrate tale here has Chaucer taken by the great pyrate Robertson (influential Chaucer critic)who was "terrible for to looke vpon, . . . wyth a skulle and bones y-crossede and a pegge leg and a copye of the De Doctrina Christiana by Seynt Augustine."When Robertson learns of Chaucer's tale-telling ability, he forces him to recite tales each night, with the warning that "yt most likely shal happe that yn the morning Ich shal slaye thee." Eventually, the Drede Pyrate Robertson's ship Cupiditas is taken by the Feerede Buccaneer Donaldson (another critic), and Chaucer is put ashore to tell the tale.There are many other jewels in this book of rare scholarship, both serious and divinely funny, and if you love Chaucer, it's a must-buy.

Erudite, earthy, educational, entertaining
If you wondered where the sniggers in Chaucer lurk, this may be the book for you. It started on Friendster as a fakester, a grad student's "pop culture parody written in cod-Middle English by a Chaucerian persona." It morphed into a blog followed by thousands of medievalists, "nice smart people," witty pranksters, and professorial jesters. Brantley L. Bryant unmasks himself as "LeVostreGC," or "your GC", and my having to explain that reference exemplifies the fun, and the erudition, of his creation.

The blog and book's title itself combines "hath" in the archaic usage with "blog" as our current use. This chronologically unbound "central conceit" revives Chaucer as participant in this variation on "fan fiction." Certainly the mash-up results-- clever, learned, and engagingly arcane-- merit their own surprising study in this installment of "The New Middle Ages" series from a scholarly press. This anthology recounts the impact of this and related websites by medievalists over the past fifteen years in popular culture, academic circles, and via social networking. Ironically, this book allows us all affordable and permanent consultation of this Chaucer blog, even if Bryantshuts it down.

After introductory chapters study the pros and cons of cultural contexts for this technology, the other eighty percent of these pages share actual contents. Robert W. Hanning (Bryant's professor) teases and torments us with fifteen pages crammed with outrageously recondite puns, limericks, parodies, songs, smut, and bumper sticker slogans. This "comic diary," he tells us, is fifty years in the making. Hanning's section's titled "Chaucerians Do It with Pronounced E's." If that sparks a smile, read on. It's that kind of book. If you lack intimacy with Middle English, Chaucer, and medieval Europe, perhaps these delights may seduce you into fluency.

This humor, overly clever if often challenging (I confess a Ph.D. in the period, yet there's one allusion that baffles me), immortalizes what Chaucer had in common with his followers today. A bawdy, intellectual, humbling, holy, and clerically-tinged relish for the absurd, the lofty, and the ensuing, frequent collisions between our aspirations and our asses. Bryant and his conspirators remind us of the joy of scholarship, too often crushed by publish-or-perish pressures. The success of this blog beyond ivory towers, or flourescent-lit classrooms and dim cubicles, conveys the passion devoted by fans to a time they love.

Imagine if GC discovered "the wondrous messages of the Internet," the spam that these subject lines promise... "A fayre ladye of a far londe offreth me hir loue!"(Sexy female from an exotic realm seeks release.) "An churlish proposicioun of anatomical alchemie," for whatever aphrodisiac augmentation a canon might concoct. "A mightie prince of power asketh myn succour yn matirs financiale!"(Armenia fills in via "hottemail.com" for Nigeria.) "An appeale to the lustes of the bodi!"(Via "Brokers of Onlyne Erotica.") "And last but nat least, fortune doth smile vpon me!" (A chain letter.) Satire proves how our foibles endure.

That sort of sly charm permeates this tribute to Chaucer's appeal and the spell his century casts on those who pursue it today, amidst the same distractions and discussions you and I engage in at our keyboards. It, as with many inspired colloquies in this medium, does cut off suddenly. Perhaps due to the need to rush this into print, or the weariness of the author, or the inherent nature of a blog that whirls as rapidly as its URL taking its title from Chaucer's own dream vision, "The House of Fame," its entries halt, as GC muses over the werewolf craze: "Thys is a bandwagon upon which Ich wolde lyke to leap."

Well, if this all raises a grin, or cocks an eyebrow, check out this one volume from a scholarly press on Chaucer and his era which will spark more risibility than the usual monograph. Combining the commentary on this electronic medium for medievalists to spread both learning and wit with generous excerpts (updated and revised by Bryant for print) from the blog, this volume reminded me how much I enjoyed reading about these lost centuries. This study, in its learned laughter, should be snapped up by anybody who wondered, back in class, where all the devout or dirty jokes in Chaucer were buried. After this excavation, you'll wind up not only reviving them, but inventing your own, perhaps in orthographically-challenged cod-Myddle Englyshe, parchaunce. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Canterbury Tales
Beautiful Book.A great addition to my middle ages study for 6th graders.Thanks ... Read more

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The ten essays selected for this book illuminate the central themes of the most frequently taught Canterbury Tales. These texts are appropriate for undergraduates and general readers and were edited carefully to ensure that references and allusions are explained in footnotes. Theoretical excursus and critical jousting have been either simplified or omitted entirely. At the end of each essay is an annotated list of further readings. The volumes editor is one of the most distinguished active Chaucerian scholars in the world. ... Read more

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A selection of the best-loved and most frequently studied of The Canterbury Tales

This collection is the perfect introduction to one of the cornerstones of English literature. The General Prologue provides picturesque character sketches of the colorful band of pilgrims who gather at a London inn on their way to Canterbury. The nine tales chosen range from the noble Knight's story of rivalry in love to the boastful and hypocritical Pardoner's moral treatise, and from the exuberant Wife of Bath's Arthurian legend to the Miller's worldly, ribald farce. Incorporating every type of medieval narrative-bawdy anecdote, allegorical fable, and courtly romance-the tales selected here encompass the blend of universal human themes and individual personal detail that have enthralled readers for more than six hundred years. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (63)

Good book
I had to buy it for a class. I have kept it for my literature collection.

Revisiting A Merry Genius
It's easy to forget how enchanting and how modern Chaucer was. The setup of this edition enables the reader to enjoy the joyous musicality and the distinctive voices of the original poetry and---when he runs into trouble---to glance at the facing page where a literal prose translation clarifies obscure meanings. It's surprising how seldom this is necessary.

Excellent product and service!
The product was exactly as described and successfully replaced the book I had owned and loaned out. Since it's now out of print, a valuable teaching tool was lost to me when it was not returned. I am perfectly satisfied with the description, shipping, and service on this book!

i like it
it was very nice and in good shape, it was old but i expected that. it was also a very good price. i enjoyed it.

Read by Martin Jarvis and a full cast
At the Tabard Inn, thirty travelers from a diversity of classes and occupations are planning to make the annual pilgrimage to Becket's shrine at Canterbury. It is agreed that each traveler will tell four tales to help pass the time, and the host of the inn will reward the best storyteller with a free supper when they return. The Canterbury Tales is a sometimes bawdy, sometimes spiritual classic, skillfully translated into modern English and presented in an unabridged audiobook format. Read by Martin Jarvis and a full cast, The Canterbury Tales reveals the trials and travails of daily life in late fourteenth-century England through stories, conversations, jokes and arguments between travelers. Truly the most memorable way to experience this literary classic, The Canterbury Tales is especially recommended for public library collections. 17 CDs, 21 hours, tracks every 3 minutes for easy bookmarking. ... Read more

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Beyond its importance as a literary work of unvarnished genius, Geoffrey Chaucer’s unfinished epic poem is also one of the most beloved works in the English language–and for good reason: It is lively, absorbing, perceptive, and outrageously funny. But despite the brilliance of Chaucer’s work, the continual evolution of our language has rendered his words unfamiliar to many of us. Esteemed poet, translator, and scholar Burton Raffel’s magnificent new unabridged translation brings Chaucer’s poetry back to life, ensuring that none of the original’s wit, wisdom, or humanity is lost to the modern reader. This Modern Library edition also features an Introduction by the widely influential medievalist and author John Miles Foley that discusses Chaucer’s work as well as his life and times. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

received for LibraryThing's Early Reviewers
This particular translation proved to be an easier read than I had expected. A little of the flow feels like it has been sacrificed in favor of readability, but that didn't bother me- rather, I enjoyed the chance to read the stories without having to over-think the poetry. I always have my older editions for the times when the beauty of the language is more important to me than the stories!

buy it, read it, and listen to it
I am listening to this on audiobook. The intro is over an hour long and in itself is worth the price of the entire book. Pure joy, timeless. Do not be swayed by some puerile bad reviews. Some intellects cannot appreciate talent or good literature.

Chaucer's oeuvre in superb translation

These translations/interpretations do take their inspiration from
Chaucer but are freely adapted for the modern reader.

This a capital retelling of the "The Canterbury Tales" in which the
pilgrims in 14th century England give very interesting stories as they travel to the cathedral at Canterbury.

Over the years I tried the original, a few critical editions and
now have come to the conclusion Burton Raffel has produced a
masterful 'work of art' to be fully appreciated!

Dag Stomberg
St. Andrews, Scotland

For more reviews, go to www.alexctelander.com, and the BookBanter podcast: http://bookbanter.podbean.com
THE CANTERBURY TALES BY GEOFFREY CHAUCER, TRANSLATED BY BURTON RAFFEL: The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories written by one of the greatest writers in history, up there with William Shakespeare himself.Originally published in the late fifteenth century, it has appeared on high school reading lists, and serves as one of the most important medieval texts - if not the most important - ever written and published.

Chaucer tells the story of 29 pilgrims who set out on pilgrimage from London to Canterbury.Pilgrimage was a common event in many people's lives in the medieval world, especially if they were looking to be pious and guarantee their ascent into heaven; it was also a good way for those who had committed sins to be absolved of their actions.The Host of this pilgrimage sets the stage in the "General Prologue" by asking each of the pilgrims to tell four stories; two on the way to Canterbury, and two on the way back to London.The storytelling will help pass the time, but will also serve to enlighten the group about the lives and actions of the pilgrims.

While Chaucer never fully completed his 124 stories, ending at 22,, there is nevertheless a wide selection of stories from most of its main characters."The Knight's Tale" is the story about two royal Theban cousins who love the same woman.There's "The Wife of Bath's Tale," as she discusses her life of five husbands and the importance and sacrifice she has made in marriage and being a wife."The Miller's Tale" mocks the life of a carpenter who is fooled into believing a flood is coming, while the clerk sleeps with his wife.In the final story, "The Parson's Tale," the Parson talks for a long time about the importance of being just and pious and faithful to God.

The Canterbury Tales is not just a collection of entertaining stories from the fifteenth century, but is a most fascinating insight into the way of life of these people, what they considered funny or sad, what they wore and ate, and what sort of a role the church truly played in their lives.Chaucer even inserts himself into his book, arguing back and forth with the Host, as he is challenged to tell a superior story.

In this new translation from Burton Raffel, much of the original text is preserved, even though Raffel admits that in any translation, it is ultimately going to be different as it is that, a translation.Nevertheless, where possible, Raffel keeps and maintains the rhyming scheme, giving life to the stories and making the old oral tradition of storytelling come alive off the page.This new translation of The Canterbury Tales is perfect for anyone who enjoys these old texts, or for a student having trouble reading the early Middle English; it is even ideal for families to learn through reciting the stories aloud and hearing these classics come to life through voice, as they were originally meant to.

Absolutely Delightful.
The Tales offer such a diverse slice of Medieval life and are narrated from so many different perspectives. Yes they are a bit ribald but such was life before the constraints of Puritanism became the norm. I found myself laughing out loud at the hijinks described in the likes of The Miller's Tale and then (countered by) The Reeves Tale.
As is well known by now, Chaucer did not himself write these stories but instead took tales that were universally familiar and embellished them to such a degree as to make them highly enjoyable some six centuries later. I like that most are short and can be reread at leisure. I would highly recommend them to anyone who enjoys that particular period in time. It is history with scrumptious flavoring.
... Read more

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This Halcyon Classics ebook edition contains the complete and unabridged CANTERBURY TALES, a collection of stories written in Middle-English by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century.Chaucer was heavily influenced by Boccaccio's DECAMERON, which has a similar structure.

The tales are told as part of a story-telling contest by a group of pilgrims as they travel together on a journey from Southwark (London) to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. By casting a bumbling, credulous version of himself as tour guide, Chaucer created literature's first unreliable narrator.

This ebook is DRM free and includes an active table of contents.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

don't buy it
This ebook is no good at all.I was looking for a version in the origional Middle English, which the product description said that it was the case, but it was not true.Also, the whole alignment of the translated verses is wrong.So in short, it is not worth anything. ... Read more

Product Description

This collection was designed for optimal navigation on Kindle and other electronic devices. All books included in this collection feature a hyperlinked table of contents and footnotes. The collection is complimented by an author biography.

Table of Contents

The Canterbury Tales
The Assembly of Fowls
Chaucer's A. B. C
Chaucer's Dream
The Court of Love
The Cuckoo and the Nightingale
The House of Fame
The Legend of Good Women
Miscellaneous Poems
Troilus and Cressida

Appendix
Geoffrey Chaucer Biography

Customer Reviews (2)

This is the Edition you Want
This Kindle version is taken from the Everyman Edition.So it's the original version of the Canterbury Tales and not one of those gawdawful English "translations" of it.Since the dictionary attached to the Kindle doesn't understand a lot of the spelling and definitions of some of the more obscure words, there are little asterisked in-line translations of the meaning usually included on the same line as the verse.It takes a bit of getting used to. Here's an example of some of the opening lines that include the inline glossary:

When that Aprilis, with his showers swoot*, *sweet
The drought of March hath pierced to the root...

The tender croppes* and the younge sun *twigs, boughs
Have the ram his halfe course y-run

Now, since the Kindle screen is too narrow for some of the text in its native font, the lines might get jumbled up a bit, so the second couplet above might show up as:

The tender croppes* and the younge sun *twigs,
boughs
Have the ram his halfe course y-run

But this is minor and not really distracting. It's just a matter of getting accustomed to it.Highly recommend this edition.

happy with the quality
Works of Geoffrey Chaucer. Including The Canterbury Tales, Troilus and Cressida and more. FREE Author's biography and stories in the trial version.

Reading Kindle version of "The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer" is a pure pleasure. Great ebook! ... Read more

Product Description
This peerless new edition of Chaucer's complete works is the fruit of many years' study, and replaces Robinson's famous edition, long regarded as the standard text. Freshly edited and annotated, the "Riverside Chaucer" is now the indispensable edition for students and readers of Chaucer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

Riverside Chaucer
Terrific book, wonderful illustrations of course last but not least the incredible poetry of Geoffrey Chaucer.

Riverside Chaucer
I have both the Baugh, "Chaucer's Major Poetry", and the Robinson, "The Works of Chaucer".I've added the Riverside to my Chaucer collection mostly because "The Riverside Shakespeare" is one of the best books I have ever bought.Each of the Chaucer volumes has it's strength.The Baugh collection has a great advantage in that the commentary notes are at the bottom of the page so there's no need to page back and forth from the front to the back of the volume.This is a major deficiency in the Robinson and Riverside texts.The Riverside is especially good at translation notes on each page-beats having the MED open at all times although that's still required sometimes.

Overall, "The Riverside Chaucer" is a fine book.I'm glad I bought it and especially glad I got it from Amazon.Since it's a textbook the college bookstores are in the "fleece the student" mode and many of the other non-amazonian web sites have the same kinds of prices.I would not have bought it if not for Amazon.I'm alraedy "over-Chaucered"!!

speedy delivery, wonderful condition!
the book was in absolutely AWESOME condition--no marks at all, no damage to the cover or the pages. thanks!

Be Prepared to Learn Middle English
A great collection of Chaucer. It's hard to find his other works combined with the Canterbury Tales. The book is well bound and will be something that can be durable enough to stay on the shelves for decades.

The entire book is written in Middle English however.There are plenty of footnotes, but often times the reader will need to find a translation to fully understand some of the passages.

Let this book become part of your library, and sell all your other editions of Chaucer
For whom is the Riverside Chaucer designed? Certainly, if you are a general interest reader encountering Chaucer for a single class (i.e. a survey of Middle English literature) then the Riverside is too large, expensive, and unnecessary. However, if you are an English major, scholar of Medieval literature, graduate student, et cetera, then the Riverside Chaucer is a must.

When you buy this book you can recycle your paperback editions that have just "The Canterbury Tales" or just "The Parliament of Fowls"; collected here are all the works ever written by Chaucer (including a few of dubious authorship). The Riverside is terrific for its sheer volume of its contents, especially as it contains works by Chaucer that are unavailable, or hard to find, as separate edition (particulary his translation of Boethius' "De Consolatione Philosophiae").

Other than serving as your "one-stop Chaucer shop" the Riverside should be celebrated for its elaborate and informative scholary notes. Footnotes, endnotes, indices of proper names, maps, a glossary, and information on pronunciation and verse round out this comprehensive edition. In summary, if you plan on encountering Chaucer more than the average students who takes perhaps a single class dealing with him, this is the edition for you. Those who decide to pursue scholarly work will need the Riverside, as it is THE edition from which Chaucer is cited in research. ... Read more

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This important new critical biography traces in carefully considered detail what is known of Geoffrey Chaucer's personal life while exploring the fascinating relationship between the man of affairs, who made so many 'improvisations and accommodations' to ensure his own survival, and the poet. A major reexamination of England's greatest narrative poet, it is supplemented with reproductions of Chaucer portraits and other illustrations, including maps of medieval England. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Chaucer
Wonderful book, pedigrees and a little history of life, I've thoroughly enjoyed this book and the wonderful pictures included of Mr. Chaucer.

Excellent Critical Biography
Dr. Pearsall's Chaucerian Biography is an excellent critical biography that will serve the serious Chaucer scholar well in getting a better acquaintance with biographical contexts in the study of "TheCanterbury Tales" as well as other of Chaucer's great poetic works. Pearsall's detailed approach to biographical and literary matters coupledwith the fact that he does not conjecture about biographical material makesthis edition a wonderful addition to the work on Chaucer scholarship

Reading this book is like getting your gums scraped.
Unfortunately, I had to read this book for a class on Chaucer.The book is an unbiased, fact-filled historical account of what is known about Geoffrey Chaucer.It includes a mind-numbing string of references to actual documents related to Chaucer, anything that mentioned him. It is not exciting.It is not fun to read.The good thing is that the author does not take it upon himself to make Chaucer into some kind of hero, or super-poet. ... Read more

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The third edition of the definitive collection of Chaucer's Complete Works, reissued with a new foreword by Christopher Cannon. Since F. N. Robinson's second edition of the The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer was published in 1957, there has been a dramatic increase in Chaucer scholarship. This has not only enriched our understanding of Chaucer's art, but has also enabled scholars, working for the first time with all the source-material, to recreate Chaucer's authentic texts. For the third edition, an international team of experts completely re-edited all the works, added glosses to appear on the page with the text, and greatly expanded the introductory material, explanatory notes, textual notes, bibliography, and glossary. In short, the Riverside Chaucer is the fruit of many years' study - the most authentic and exciting edition available of Chaucer's Complete Works. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Confusing number of "Riverside Chaucer" editions
This listing is very confusing.It says the book is 385 pages long, but the TOC shown (same first page shown twice) looks like the first page of the hardcover, 1327 page edition.There are at least 3 Riverside Chaucer editions being sold, or at least listed:the hardcover, and two paperbacks.If you are looking for the complete, scholarly edition, I'd recommend the 1377 page hardcover edition.The complete works is a big, heavy book on thin paper, so a paperback is not as likely to hold up as well as the paperback.The paperback versions are described as 377 or 385 pages--looks like a mistake, but who knows what you're getting.Amazon needs to review and clarify these listings.

I highly recommend the Riverside Chaucer for its excellent text and copious notes.If you want the serious, standard edition of the complete works, this is it.But my concern with this edition is that it's not clear just what you're getting:the complete works or a selection. ... Read more

Product Description

This is an electronic edition of the complete book complemented by author biography. This book features the table of contents linked to every chapter. The book was designed for optimal navigation on the Kindle, PDA, Smartphone, and other electronic readers. It is formatted to display on all electronic devices including the Kindle, Smartphones and other Mobile Devices with a small display.

From the heroic romance of "The Knight's Tale" to the low farce embodied in the stories of the Miller, the Reeve, and the Merchant, Chaucer treated such universal subjects as love, sex, and death in poetry that is simultaneously witty, insightful, and poignant. The Canterbury Tales is a grand tour of 14th-century English mores and morals--one that modern-day readers will enjoy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (67)

Kindle edition formatting is horrible!
The paperback version has the original text of the tales on the left hand page and the modern translation on the right. The publisher does not provide any cues in formatting of the Kindle edition to show difference between the original text and the modern. The two texts run together making reading almost impossible.

Decent
The book stated in was in "good" shape, but I was say it is a little less than good, but still useable. None of the pages are torn but they are yellow with spots on it. And it shipped extremely late compared to all of the other books. My class started quite a while back so I am thankful that I did not need this at the beginning of the summer class or else I would not have had it. I ordered eleven books for my Western Civ class and this was the last book to get here. But if you order from here make sure there is not a time sensitive issue. Other than that it is an okay buy. The price was great though!!!

Canterbury Tales
I indeed ordered Canterbury Tales as a gift for my daughter. There were many options as to the style of book available. I specifically searched for something appearing a little older or different that was a hardcover and especially liked the idea it was cloth covered...that sold me on this item. When it arrived however it was hardcover but not cloth covered; rather paper covered that looks like cloth on the actual print. That was very disappointing...if I had of known I would not have placed this order.

Amazon appears to have combined the reveiws for several different editions
The Bantam edition (ISBN 0-553-21082-3), edited, introduced and translated by Peter G. Beidler, is inexpensive but readable. I like having the original on one side and a translation on the other because it enables me to make an attempt at reading the original and then check my comprehension with the translation. The introduction and notes are informative but not intrusive. It's true that only ten of the tales are included but there is enough to keep you busy for awhile. I recommend this if you are looking for an inexpensive and portable edition.

Why is Chaucer so great?
Umm... Did not enjoy this book. Characters were almost all lewd and bad people, crooks and the like. One dimensional characters, all. The stories they told were sometimes interesting, at least. ... Read more