- Published: 30 January 2003
- ISBN: 9780140424386
- Imprint: Penguin Classics
- Format: Paperback
- Pages: 528
- RRP: $21.00
The Canterbury Tales
 The Nile
                    The Nile
                    
                
                
                     Mighty Ape
                    Mighty Ape
                    
                
                    
                
                     BookHub
                    BookHub
                    
                
                
                     Whitcoulls
                    Whitcoulls
                    
                
                
                     The Warehouse
                    The Warehouse
                    
                
                
                     Paper Plus
                    Paper Plus
                    
                
                
                     Fishpond
                    Fishpond
                    
                
                
                     Book Hero
                    Book Hero
                    
                
                
                     Unity Books
                    Unity Books
                    
                
                
                     University Book Shop
                    University Book Shop
                    
                
                
                     Find Local Retailers
                    Find Local Retailers
                    
                
        Penguin Classics Relaunch
In The Canterbury Tales Chaucer created one of the great touchstones of English literature, a masterly collection of chivalric romances, moral allegories and low farce. A story-telling competition between a group of pilgrims from all walks of life is the occasion for a series of tales that range from the Knight's account of courtly love and the ebullient Wife of Bath's Arthurian legend, to the ribald anecdotes of the Miller and the Cook.
- Published: 30 January 2003
- ISBN: 9780140424386
- Imprint: Penguin Classics
- Format: Paperback
- Pages: 528
- RRP: $21.00
Other books in the series
About the author
Geoffrey Chaucer was born in London, the son of a wine-merchant, in about 1342, and as he spent his life in royal government service his career happens to be unusually well documented. By 1357 Chaucer was a page to the wife of Prince Lionel, second son of Edward III, and it was while in the prince's service that Chaucer was ransomed when captured during the English campaign in France in 1359-60. Chaucer's wife Philippa, whom he married c. 1365, was the sister of Katherine Swynford, the mistress (c. 1370) and third wife (1396) of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, whose first wife Blanche (d. 1368) is commemorated in Chaucer's earliest major poem, The Book of the Duchess.
From 1374 Chaucer worked as controller of customs on wool in the port of London, but between 1366 and 1378 he made a number of trips abroad on official business, including two trips to Italy in 1372-3 and 1378. The influence of Chaucer's encounter with Italian literature is felt in the poems he wrote in the late 1370's and early 1380s – The House of Fame, The Parliament of Fowls and a version of The Knight's Tale – and finds its fullest expression in Troilus and Criseyde.
In 1386 Chaucer was member of parliament for Kent, but in the same year he resigned his customs post, although in 1389 he was appointed Clerk of the King's Works (resigning in 1391). After finishing Troilus and his translation into English prose of Boethius' De consolatione philosophiae, Chaucer started his Legend of Good Women. In the 1390s he worked on his most ambitious project, The Canterbury Tales, which remained unfinished at his death. In 1399 Chaucer leased a house in the precincts of Westminster Abbey but died in 1400 and was buried in the Abbey.
 
         
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                        