The Canterbury Tales

HarperCollins is proud to present our range of timeless literary classics. ‘Full wise is he that can himselven knowe.’ Written at the end of the fourteenth century, the poet Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales are a collection of stories told in Middle-English. Thirty pilgrims leave Southwark to travel to a shrine in Canterbury and become the narrators, telling each other stories of chivalrous romance, fable, parable, debate and comedy as they journey. Their accounts of the human condition remain as resonant today as when they were first written.

"The Canterbury Tales" er en af Engelsk litteraturs første klassikere, skrevet af Geoffrey Chaucer engang i 1300-tallet. Denne nye udgave har noter, der gør teksten mere forståelig. Den lyriske beretning i "The Canterbury Tales", handler om et møde mellem 30 pilgrimme, der finder sted på Tabard Inn i Southwark. Da de skal fordrive tiden inden de fortsætter til helligdommen i Canterbury katedralen, beslutter de sig for at fortælle hinanden historier. Den der fortæller den bedste historie, vil få et gratis måltid mad. Sådan begynder Geoffrey Chaucers klassiker, der i århundrederne efter har inspireret både litteratur, musik og film.

"The Canterbury Tales" er en af Engelsk litteraturs første klassikere, skrevet af Geoffrey Chaucer engang i 1300-tallet. Denne nye udgave har noter, der gør teksten mere forståelig. Den lyriske beretning i "The Canterbury Tales", handler om et møde mellem 30 pilgrimme, der finder sted på Tabard Inn i Southwark. Da de skal fordrive tiden inden de fortsætter til helligdommen i Canterbury katedralen, beslutter de sig for at fortælle hinanden historier. Den der fortæller den bedste historie, vil få et gratis måltid mad. Sådan begynder Geoffrey Chaucers klassiker, der i århundrederne efter har inspireret både litteratur, musik og film.

'Whoever best acquits himself, and tells The most amusing and instructive tale, Shall have a dinner, paid for by us all...' In Chaucer's most ambitious poem, The Canterbury Tales (c. 1387), a group of pilgrims assembles in an inn just outside London and agree to entertain each other on the way to Canterbury by telling stories. The pilgrims come from all ranks of society, from the crusading Knight and burly Miller to the worldly Monk and lusty Wife of Bath. Their tales are as various as the tellers, including romance, bawdy comedy, beast fable, learned debate, parable, and Eastern adventure. The resulting collection gives us a set of characters so vivid that they have often been taken as portraits from real life, and a series of stories as hilarious in their comedy as they are affecting in their tragedy. Even after 600 years, their account of the human condition seems both fresh and true. This new edition of David Wright's acclaimed translation includes a new critical introduction and invaluable notes by a leading Chaucer scholar. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

'Whoever best acquits himself, and tells The most amusing and instructive tale, Shall have a dinner, paid for by us all...' In Chaucer's most ambitious poem, The Canterbury Tales (c. 1387), a group of pilgrims assembles in an inn just outside London and agree to entertain each other on the way to Canterbury by telling stories. The pilgrims come from all ranks of society, from the crusading Knight and burly Miller to the worldly Monk and lusty Wife of Bath. Their tales are as various as the tellers, including romance, bawdy comedy, beast fable, learned debate, parable, and Eastern adventure. The resulting collection gives us a set of characters so vivid that they have often been taken as portraits from real life, and a series of stories as hilarious in their comedy as they are affecting in their tragedy. Even after 600 years, their account of the human condition seems both fresh and true. This new edition of David Wright's acclaimed translation includes a new critical introduction and invaluable notes by a leading Chaucer scholar. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

'Nevill Coghill's easy, seductive translation ensures that this, the most popular work in English Literature - now 600 years old - will run through yet more centuries' Melvyn Bragg In The Canterbury Tales Chaucer created one of the great touchstones of English literature. A storytelling competition within 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. This masterly and vivid modern English verse translation retains all the vigour and poetry of Chaucer's fourteenth-century Middle English. Translated by NEVILL COGHILL

'Nevill Coghill's easy, seductive translation ensures that this, the most popular work in English Literature - now 600 years old - will run through yet more centuries' Melvyn Bragg In The Canterbury Tales Chaucer created one of the great touchstones of English literature. A storytelling competition within 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. This masterly and vivid modern English verse translation retains all the vigour and poetry of Chaucer's fourteenth-century Middle English. Translated by NEVILL COGHILL

This selection of the best-loved and most frequently studied of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tale s provides a fascinating introduction to one of the great cornerstones of English literature. The General Prologue gives vivid character sketches of the colourful band of pilgrims who gather at a London inn on their way to Canterbury, while the nine tales chosen range from the noble Knight’s story of rivalry in love to the boastful Pardoner’s moral treatise, from the exuberant Wife of Bath’s Arthurian legend to the Miller’s worldly, ribald farce. Incorporating every style of Medieval narrative – bawdy anecdote, allegorical fable and courtly romance – the tales brought together here encompass the blend of universal human themes and individual personal detail that have fascinated readers for over 600 years. For this selection the original fourteenth-century Middle English is presented with a facing-page modern prose translation. This volume also contains a chronology, further reading and an introduction examining Chaucer’s life and work and the literary influences on the Tales . Translated and edited with an introduction by Colin Wilcockson

This selection of the best-loved and most frequently studied of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tale s provides a fascinating introduction to one of the great cornerstones of English literature. The General Prologue gives vivid character sketches of the colourful band of pilgrims who gather at a London inn on their way to Canterbury, while the nine tales chosen range from the noble Knight’s story of rivalry in love to the boastful Pardoner’s moral treatise, from the exuberant Wife of Bath’s Arthurian legend to the Miller’s worldly, ribald farce. Incorporating every style of Medieval narrative – bawdy anecdote, allegorical fable and courtly romance – the tales brought together here encompass the blend of universal human themes and individual personal detail that have fascinated readers for over 600 years. For this selection the original fourteenth-century Middle English is presented with a facing-page modern prose translation. This volume also contains a chronology, further reading and an introduction examining Chaucer’s life and work and the literary influences on the Tales . Translated and edited with an introduction by Colin Wilcockson

Part of Penguin's beautiful hardback Clothbound Classics series, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith, these delectable and collectible editions are bound in high-quality colourful, tactile cloth with foil stamped into the design. 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.

Part of Penguin's beautiful hardback Clothbound Classics series, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith, these delectable and collectible editions are bound in high-quality colourful, tactile cloth with foil stamped into the design. 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.

Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales between 1387 and 1400, as a series of stories told by a group of thirty people who travel as pilgrims to Canterbury. The pilgrims come from every part of society, tell each other tales to pass the time while they travel, offering romance, farce, philosophy, religion and satire in a ribald reflection of humankind. One of the greatest works of English Literature. Flame Tree Gothic Fantasy, Classic Stories and Epic Tales collections bring together the entire range of myth, folklore, epic literature and modern short fiction. Highlighting the roots of suspense, supernatural, science fiction and mystery stories, the books in Flame Tree Collections series are beautifully presented, perfect as a gift and offer a lifetime of reading pleasure.

This major milestone in the history of English literature is presented in a sumptuous hardback edition with printed page edges, lavishly illustrated by and William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones . The Canterbury Tales is an enduringly fascinating work - both an enjoyable romp through the lives of a cast of engaging characters and a window on the world of everyday life in 14th-century England. Its allegorical depths reward repeated reading. In this edition, the stories are presented in a modern English verse translation by Frank Ernest Hill which succeeds in retaining the charm of the original while ensuring the text is accessible to a general readership. ABOUT THE SERIES: Arcturus Epic Classics brings together stunning large-format hardback editions of classic works, presented with striking illustrated page edges and classic illustrations throughout.

This major milestone in the history of English literature is presented in a sumptuous hardback edition with printed page edges, lavishly illustrated by and William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones . The Canterbury Tales is an enduringly fascinating work - both an enjoyable romp through the lives of a cast of engaging characters and a window on the world of everyday life in 14th-century England. Its allegorical depths reward repeated reading. In this edition, the stories are presented in a modern English verse translation by Frank Ernest Hill which succeeds in retaining the charm of the original while ensuring the text is accessible to a general readership. ABOUT THE SERIES: Arcturus Epic Classics brings together stunning large-format hardback editions of classic works, presented with striking illustrated page edges and classic illustrations throughout.