Description
Book SynopsisAt the Tabard Inn in Southwark, a jovial group of pilgrims assembles, including an unscrupulous Pardoner, a noble-minded Knight, a ribald Miller, the lusty Wife of Bath, and Chaucer himself. As they set out on their journey towards the shrine of Thomas a Becket in Canterbury, each character agrees to tell a tale. The twenty-four tales that follow are by turns learned, fantastic, pious, melancholy and lewd, and together offer an unrivalled glimpse into the mind and spirit of medieval England.
Trade Review“A delight . . . [Raffel’s translation] provides more opportunities to savor the counterpoint of Chaucer’s earthy humor against passages of piercingly beautiful lyric poetry.”—
Kirkus Reviews
“Masterly . . . This new translation beckons us to make our own pilgrimage back to the very wellsprings of literature in our language.” —Billy Collins
“
The Canterbury Tales has remained popular for seven centuries. It is the most approachable masterpiece of the medieval world, and Mr. Raffel’s translation makes the stories even more inviting.”
—Wall Street Journal
Table of ContentsThe Canterbury TalesAcknowledgments
Editor's Note
Chronolgy
Introduction
Further Reading
Chaucer's Language
A Note on the Tect
Abbreviations of the
Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury Tales
Fragment I (Group A)
The General Prologue
The Knight's Tale
The Miller's Prologue and Tale
The Reeve's Prologue and Tale
The Cook's Prologue and Tale
Fragment II (Group B)
The Man of Law's Prologue, Tale and Epilogue
Fragment III (Group D)
The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale
The Friar's Prologue and Tale
The Summoner's Prologue and Tale
Fragment IV (Group E)
The Clerk's Prologue and Tale
The Merchant's Prologue, Tale and Epilogue
Fragment V (Group F)
The Squire's Prologue and Tale
The Squire-Franklin Link, the Franklin's Prologue and Tale
Fragment VI (Group C)
The Physician's Tale
The Physicia-Pardoner Link, The Pardoner's Prologue and Tale
Fragment VII (Group B)
The Shipman's Tale
The Shipman-Prioress Link, The Prioress's Prologue and Tale
The Prioress-Sir Thopas Link and Sir Thopas
The Thopas-Melibee Link and the Tale of Melibee
The Monk's Prologue and Tale
The Nun's Priest's Prologue, Tale and Epilogue
Fragment VIII (Group G)
The Second Nun's Prologue and Tale
The Canon's Yeoman's Prologue and Tale
Fragment IX (Group H)
The Manciple's Prologue and Tale
Fragment X (Group I)
The Parson's Prologue and Tale
Chaucer's Retractions
Abbrviated References
Notes
Glossary
