- Published: 30 May 2006
- ISBN: 9780553902525
- Imprint: RH US eBook Adult
- Format: EBook
- Pages: 688
The Canterbury Tales
Penguin Classics Relaunch
Lively, absorbing, often outrageously funny, Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales is a work of genius, an undisputed classic that has held a special appeal for each generation of readers. The Tales gathers twenty-nine of literature’s most enduring (and endearing) characters in a vivid group portrait that captures the full spectrum of medieval society, from the exalted Knight to the humble Plowman.
This new edition includes a comprehensive introduction that summarizes some of the most important historical events and movements that defined the world of Chaucer and his pilgrims; two additional tales (Reeve’s and Shipman’s); introductions for each tale designed to prepare the reader for a better understanding and enjoyment of the tale; newly written and conveniently placed explanatory notes; and a new, more easily understood system for learning to pronounce Chaucerian Middle English.
- Published: 30 May 2006
- ISBN: 9780553902525
- Imprint: RH US eBook Adult
- Format: EBook
- Pages: 688
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.
 
         
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                                                 
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                            
                                     
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                        