 | By: Geoffrey Chaucer Binding: Paperback Publisher: Penguin Classics ISBN: 014042234X ISBN-13: 9780140422344 Released: 07 Apr 2005 RRP: Average Rating:  |
'A Clerk ther was of Oxenford also,'
This is perhaps my favourite character, as when I first read it, it seemed to epitomise what I hoped for in my own life.
'That unto logik hadde longe y-go.
....
For him was lever have at his beddes heed
Twenty bokes, clad in blak or reed,
Of Aristotle & his philosophye,
Than robes riche, of fithele, or gay sautrye,
But al be that he was a philosophre,
Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre,
But al that he mighte of his freendes hente,
On bokes & on lerninge he it spente,
and bisily gan for the soules preye
Of hem that yaf him wherwith to scoleye.
....
...gladly wolde he lerne, & gladly teche.'
Every now & then I cannot help but re-read this part of the Prologue, for a reminder of what I'm aiming for in my own life.
Chaucer was son of a wine merchant, something near & dear to my heart. Chaucer was well-read, well-phrased, well-mannered, industrious in literary & legal/administrative pursuits, as I trust I will become, if not already so qualified.
As one can see from the above examples, English has changed much over the past 600 years, but not so much as to make these passages unrecognisable. Compare for yourself with a modern translation such as this, & see how much you can decipher.
Chaucer is one of the first great English authors of name; most (but not alll) literary output in English prior to this time was anonymous. Living in the 1300s, he held administrative posts of importance under Kings from the time of Edward III to Henry IV. Never one to shrink from spending too much money (he had to reapply for pensions & ask for advances several times in his life) or shying away from controversy (he fell out of & came back into favour several times). When he died, he was laid to rest in Westminster Abbey, in a section on the south side that has since become Poet's Corner, largely due to Chaucer, the first great English poet, having been buried there.
In addition to his magnus opus, 'The Canterbury Tales', a collection of stories with prologue told by pilgrims on their journey to Canterbury (car radios & in-flight movies were rare in those days), Chaucer wrote minor poems to suit various occasions (his first record as poet comes from having written a poem as elegy on the death of John of Gaunt's first wife, Blanche, in 1369), & the major work for which he was noted for 'Troilus & Criseyde', which showed his sense of humour, power of observation & attention to detail, & keen dramatic skills in language. This work is often compared to Dante & Boccaccio, perhaps the most famous poets of the day. 'The Canterbury Tales' is actuallly intended to be much longer - 120 tales told by 30 pilgrims (two each on the way to Canterbury, & two each returning). As it is, there are only 24 tales plus a prologue - had it been completed, it would be by far the longest poem in the English language.
There is a strong, practical side to Chaucer's writing, sophisticated yet not aloof & removed from the affairs of the world, cultured yet in tune with the better (and more interesting) aspects of the common people, too.
This edition by Nevill Coghill is designed for those who only want the Canterbury Tales, not the other writings of Chaucer, but want a set of the complete tales & prologue from standard texts. This is a fairly standard version that is useful for students - the Penguin classics have long been a staple for undergraduate & general readership, & this volume fits the bill nicely.
For those who want the Canterbury Tales in good form, this is a good volume to get.
Below are some of the current bestsellers - click them for a price comparison and find the cheapest place to buy!
