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Jun 01, 2010

Abigail rated it:

This massive tome, 1327 pages in length, was the text used in my college Chaucer class, and provides a wonderful introduction to the works of this brilliant, but frequently under-appreciated poet. It contains all of Chaucer's major works, presented in their original Middle English; and includes the famous Canterbury Tales, The Book of the Duchess, The Parliament of Fowls, Troilus and Criseyde, and many other short pieces. The introduction and appendices provide some very useful background materi More...

2 comments like (3 people liked it)

Sep 24, 2011

Robert is currently reading it

The Franklin's Tale is the last of the thematically linked "Marriage Group" and apparently some critics think it is meant to be Chaucer's view on the subject; marital success comes from understanding, forgiveness and hard work. It's a "rash promise" story where-in some-one instead of making an outright refusal, instead promises something in case of meeting an apparently impossible set of conditions. This is always a mistake, since a magician or some such always comes along an More...

2 comments like (5 people liked it)

May 22, 2011

Faith rated it:

Chaucer is my love. Middle English is ridiculously hard for us Modern English-ers to read, but Chaucer is oh so worth it. I bought this for my Chaucer seminar, which focused on everything but the Canterbury Tales. Can I just say that everyone should read Troilus and Criseyde? No one knows about it but extreme English dorks (like myself :P ), but most scholars think it his greatest work. It's wonderful, and the characters will make you SO ANGRY! The men are so awful!
So, my conclusion. Read More...

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Mar 31, 2009

Alex rated it:

I may be a total nerd, but devoting a semester to reading Chaucer in middle English has been one of the best academic decisions I have ever made. One of Chaucer's short poems, The Book of the Duchess, written to condole Chaucer's patron John of Gaunt after he lost is beloved wife Blanche, Duchess of Lancaster, is among the most beautiful I have ever read. My class began to read it a year after the death of another angel, Eve Carson, UNC student body president. I'm finding it difficult to put in More...

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Aug 11, 2010

Mark rated it:

This is the greatest edition of one of the greatest authors. Perhaps Shakespeare is greater. Perhaps.

Chaucer's ability to capture the variety and earthiness of human life is unparalleled. He is the poet of human nature.

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Dec 08, 2008

Paul rated it:

Okay, if you're even THINKING about getting this book, understand one thing up front: it is in the original. I don't recall if it has a "translation", but I do recall having to learn how to adjust my thinking to wrap my head around Chaucerian middle english. All in all, though, I'm glad I read it in the "original" - you get things that you normally wouldn't otherwise.

Second thing - this book is heavy. Really heavy. Like I could club an endangered species over the h More...

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Feb 05, 2012

Keith rated it:

For eight centuries people have enjoyed The Canterbury Tales, and I’m glad to add my name to that list. It is an immense work covering a wide range of stories and people. In scope and range it is unprecedented in the English language. (Only Spencer’s The Fairy Queen can rival it in scale).

Being such a large, diverse work, I must admit I’ve barely gotten a taste of the entire piece having read only several of the tales and the prologue. (My goal is to read it all by 2013.) I’ve been More...

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Jul 12, 2010

David rated it:

I discovered the other evening that I can read Middle English. I bought this book about 15 years ago and stuck it on the shelf. Only picked it up again on a whim, and found the language amazingly 'earthy', the words rolling and alive in my mouth as I read aloud. Not at all like the translations, which are like saccharine syrup when compared to the chopping, guttural and yet beautiful real thing. Translations always miss much, so I'm glad I picked up the lingo so easily. An effortlessly acquired More...

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May 31, 2008

Maggie rated it:

Reading Chaucer in the original Middle English is a monumental chore; I certainly don't recommend it to the faint of heart or the dictionary-phobic. There are, however, some moments that are worth the effort, and almost all of them are found in the Canterbury Tales rather than in the many other works included in this volume. The Parliament of Fowls is a good read too, and a good pair with the Tales (both address Chaucer's feelings about the hierarchy of social classes). The best of the Tales More...

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Oct 11, 2007

Taka rated it:

I was apprehensive about reading Chaucer due to what I thought was an incorrigible phobia - so unfortunately and tragically cultivated during high school - for everything that is Chaucer. "Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote..." What? What? What?

Well, having read, in Middle English, Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, The Parliament of Fowls, The House of Fame, his translation of Boethius's The Consolation of Philosophy (titled "Boece"), and Troilus and Crisseyde More...

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Sep 10, 2011

Joshua rated it:

THE book to pick up if you want to enjoy Chaucer. Excellent work. Highly recommended. The Canterbury Tales are, of course, fantastic but pay attention to Chaucer's shorter works, especially The Book of the Duchess. The high medieval dream vision motif is employed in Duchess in a very interesting way. If you enjoy reading tales about Courtly Love (as in the Arthurian legends) then Book of the Duchess is for you.

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Nov 05, 2009

Jessica rated it:

Chaucer is brilliant. I think he's better than Shakespeare at concealing his own opinions and manipulations. It's hard to know where Chaucer stands on any of his stories and characters or when to take him seriously and when he's just having fun. That's part of what makes his work so complex and interesting. Must reads: "The Canterbury Tales," "Troilus and Cressida," and "Parliament of Fowls." Enjoy.

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Feb 23, 2009

Beth rated it:

We used this book extensively in my 2 favorite upper-level Chaucer courses and it was great. It probably helped that the professor was very engaging and enthusiastic about Chaucer. He helped us with the linguistics and made it interesting. It actually really helped with my later Shakespearean studies. I highly recommend this collection.

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Mar 14, 2011

Rachel rated it:

Read for EN2003: Mediaeval and Renaissance Texts, 2010 - 2011

We had to read 'The Miller's Tale' and 'The Franklin's Tale' for our course. I have to admit, I wasn't exactly impressed by the former, although it was interesting to learn about the background of fabliaux, and our Old English department put on a wonderful dramatisation of it! But not really my style of humour. 'The Franklin's Tale' was much more interesting, especially with all of the unanswered questions and comparisons t More...

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Jul 10, 2011

John rated it:

Chaucer is clever, human, and incredibly fun to read aloud. That said reading I don't think I would have enjoyed The Canterbury Tales (the only portion I've read) 1/100 as much had I been reading the text on my own—I owe much of my enjoyment to a fantastic professor/class.

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May 08, 2009

Matt rated it:

Full confession: I haven't read the entire thing. I have read most of it. Yes, it's in Middle English. Yes, it is awesome. Also, you totally feel accomplished once you've read a good chunk of it. Makes you feel all hardcore and stuff. Chaucer is the mad note.

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Apr 26, 2008

Patrick rated it:

I won't lie and say that I read everything in here in the Middle English. The rating is partially due to the quality of the book (physically, it's one of the nicest looking books I have seen) and the critical material that is also contained within. The introductions and glossary and footnotes are outstanding. Reading the stories without context, I would likely rate them a 2 or 3, but Chaucer deserves some respect considering the time period of their composition. Very clever for him as somewhat o More...

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Aug 30, 2010

Jww rated it:

This is a beautiful text! It is well formatted and contains Chaucer's work in Middle English (with, of course, tools to help the uninitiated reader). This is a classic that I will always have on my bookshelf.

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Jan 29, 2010

Jerry rated it:

What can be said about Chaucer? He is one of the pillars upon which British literature is built. There is nothing to equal the Canterbury Tales in the annals of Western literature.

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Oct 03, 2009

Pat rated it:

Bought this for class. It's great, but there are cheaper editions of the ME text out there as long as you don't need to know about the manuscript sources, alternate readings, etc.

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Jan 06, 2009

Drew rated it:

Once you get the hang of middle english (it's possible) everything in here is extremely rewarding, often funny, and often poigniant regarding the man.

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Sep 01, 2010

Ann Marie rated it:

So, I bought the very expensive version, not knowing that a cheaper paperback was available. Oh, well. Troilus and Criseyde is my favorite.

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Oct 14, 2011

Phil rated it:

Single-handedly the most comprehensive collection of Chaucer's works. Comes with a translation dictionary if you will for easy reference.

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Aug 12, 2010

Chery rated it:

Nothing like Middle English. Sure, I've read Chaucer modernized, but this is the way it was meant to be read.

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Feb 09, 2012

Paul rated it:

What can I say? It's Chaucer! This anthology is a collection if everything Chaucer ever wrote. Sweet.

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Jun 17, 2010

Lynne rated it:

How can you not love his range from bawdy humor to deep pathos in The Canterbury Tales? First read in 2003.

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Nov 08, 2009

Beth rated it:

Okay, so this is THE book for Chaucer studies. However...and this is a big however...it is NOT a reader-friendly edition. The way the footnotes are set up is completely asinine, in my opinion. This is a great edition for Chaucer scholars who have been reading Chaucer for decades and know the stories well and read Middle English just as easily as they read the newspaper. For people not in those categories, this is not the ideal edition. Look for an edition that gives definitional glosses out More...

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Mar 14, 2011

Ian rated it:

one of the Top three books on my shelves that I will grab on my way out if the house catches fire.

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Dec 21, 2008

Katie rated it:

I did not read this edition. I read a much earlier edition..all in Middle English....sigh. when I had a mind...

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Nov 17, 2010

Jen rated it:

Chaucer is essential in an intellectuals library; also all the gender bending!Awesome.

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