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The Canterbury tales

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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. It gathers twenty-nine of literature's most enduring (and endearing) characters in a vivid group portrait that captu...

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Main Author: Chaucer, Geoffrey, -1400
Other Authors: Raffel, Burton, Foley, John Miles
Format: Audiobooks Audiobook (CD)
Language:English
English, Middle (1100-1500)
Published: North Kingstown, R.I. : BBC Audiobooks America, p2008.
Subjects:
Christian pilgrims and pilgrimages > Poetry.
Canterbury (England) > Poetry.
Storytelling > Poetry.
Tales, Medieval.
Audiobooks.
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Summary: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. It 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.
Item Description:In container (17 cm.).
Title from container.
"Sound Library"--Container.
"Complete & Unabridged"--Container.
"Digitally Mastered"--Container.
Compact disc.
Physical Description:18 sound discs (22 hr., 33 min.) : digital ; 4 3/4 in.
Playing Time:22:20:00
Format:Compact disc.
Production Credits:A new unabridged translation by Burton Raffel.
ISBN:9780792756507
0792756509
9781602834859
1602834857
Author Notes:Geoffrey Chaucer, one of England's greatest poets, was born in London about 1340, the son of a wine merchant and deputy to the king's butler and his wife Agnes. Not much is known of Chaucer's early life and education, other than he learned to read French, Latin, and Italian. His experiences as a civil servant and diplomat are said to have developed his fascination with people and his knowledge of English life.

In 1359-1360 Chaucer traveled with King Edward III's army to France during the Hundred Years' War and was captured in Ardennes. He returned to England after the Treaty of Bretigny when the King paid his ransom. In 1366 he married Philippa Roet, one of Queen Philippa's ladies, who gave him two sons and two daughters.

Chaucer remained in royal service traveling to Flanders, Italy, and Spain. These travels would all have a great influence on his work. His early writing was influenced by the French tradition of courtly love poetry, and his later work by the Italians, especially Dante, Boccaccio, and Petrarch.

Chaucer wrote in Middle English, the form of English used from 1100 to about 1485. He is given the designation of the first English poet to use rhymed couplets in iambic pentameter and to compose successfully in the vernacular.

Chaucer's Canterbury Tales is a collection of humorous, bawdy, and poignant stories told by a group of fictional pilgrims traveling to the shrine of St. Thomas a Becket. It is considered to be among the masterpieces of literature. His works also include The Book of the Duchess, inspired by the death of John Gaunt's first wife; House of Fame, The Parliament of Fowls, and The Legend of Good Women. Troilus and Criseyde, adapted from a love story by Boccaccio, is one of his greatest poems apart from The Canterbury Tales.

Chaucer died in London on October 25, 1400. He was buried in Westminster Abbey, in what is now called Poet's Corner.

(Bowker Author Biography)

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