Chaucer and the Canterbury Tales: A Short Introduction

by John C. Hirsh

This concise and lively survey introduces students with no prior knowledge to Chaucer, and particularly to The Canterbury Tales. Provides essential facts about Chaucer, as well as a framework for thinking about his poetry. Encourages an engaged reading of The Canterbury Tales. Introduces students to the historical and religious background needed to understand the contexts in which Chaucer wrote.

190 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2002

Reviews

[Shatarupa Dhar]

Synopsis:

It was probably during the 1360s that Chaucer, a smart and able young man in his twenties, began to write poetry.

This book brings out the workings, the behind-the-scenes of one of Chaucer's greatest works, The Canterbury Tales. Compiled extensively from credible sources, it is an exhaustive biography of his life and times for beginners.

Review:

This book seeks to encourage beginning students and others to read the Canterbury Tales with interest, knowledge and, so as not to dodge the issue, pleasure.

An on/off poetess myself, I have always wanted to not only read but gain an in-depth understanding of poetry. But, what I believe is that, to truly appreciate the written word, you have to know the person behind those words. And this book does just that, this short introduction to the celebrated, but unfinished, work of Chaucer's – The Canterbury Tales. The author has done a commendable job of not only compiling but presenting Chaucer's life, at least that much of what is known, in story form.

Chaucer was a man well-travelled, as it is a prerogative of anyone who writes, thereby drawing inspiration from all and sundry. Geoffrey Chaucer, whom we all know as a poet, was also a civil servant, and even a diplomat, of some importance. From birth to the life he led, the careers he had, to his death, to the epic that is the Canterbury Tales, whatever information is available has been systematically provided in this book in a concise manner. In each chapter, an illustration (Hodnett, named after Edward Hodnett, who compiled them) has been provided, William Caxton's woodcuts in the 1483 edition of the Canterbury Tales.

In death as in art, other poets followed him so that the place in the Abbey where he lies is now known as 'Poet's Corner'.

The book is neatly rounded off with a summary of the Canterbury Tales for ease of understanding.

*The italicized portions in the review are excerpts from the book.