The Canterbury Tales A Selection

This selection of the best-loved and most frequently studied of Chaucerrs"s Canterbury Tales provides a fascinating introduction to one of the great cornerstones of English literature. The General Prologue gives vivid character sketches of the colourful band of pilgrims who gather at a London inn on their way to Canterbury, while the nine tales chosen range from the noble Knightrs"s story of rivalry in love to the boastful Pardonerrs"s moral treatise, from the exuberant Wife of Bathrs"s Arthurian legend to the Millerrs"s worldly, ribald farce. Incorporating every style of Medieval narrative bawdy anecdote, allegorical fable and courtly romance the tales brought together here encompass the blend of universal human themes and individual personal detail that have fascinated readers for over 600 years.For this selection the original fourteenth-century Middle English is presented with a facing-page modern prose translation. This volume also contains a chronology, further reading and an introduction examining Chaucerrs"s life and work and the literary influences on the Tales.Translated and edited with an introduction by Colin Wilcockson

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.1340-û1400) was born in London, the son of a wine merchant, and spent his life in royal and government service. His literary work, with its dazzling array of genres, helped establish the English literary tradition.

Colin Wilcockson has published many books, articles, and reviews on medieval and Renaissance literature. He is an emeritus fellow of Pembroke College, Cambridge.