The Canterbury Tales: A Selection

This edition of The Canterbury Tales is a great translation from the original middle english text. The stories in here will keep you entertained no matter your interests; from murder, to lechery and folktales, Chaucer's got it all!

This tour de force from literary genius Geoffrey Chaucer serves as the foundation of storytelling for the common man (and woman). There is bawdiness aplenty -- perfect for fans of Adam Sandler and Tom Green (provided they don't mind tackling some Middle English) -- to go along with traditional adventures and fables. This mix ensures that there is something for everyone, despite the absence of the girls with guns that Paul Grimes yearns for in his 12th of January review. The lessons and morals in the Tales are as relevant today as they were in the author's time.

It is unfortunate that Chaucer passed on before he was able to complete the work, leaving us to speculate about what other adventures may have appeared in the Tales. Given that Chaucer's death was in 1400, Paul Grimes' wish that the author does better next time is rather unlikely to come true.

Even though The Canterbury Tales is an incomplete work, it still stands as a testament to the power of creativity and is a tribute to the heights that literature can reach.

Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" tells us more than mere pilgrims' tales. First, the Middle English of Chaucer's time makes us realise and appreciate the evolution of the English language. The irony, sarcasm, and wit of Pilgrim Chaucer as the Narrator delights the literary buds of our human intellect. Curious minds should take delight in learning about the social and moral fabric that are woven throughout each pilgrim's character and the tales that is spun by that pilgrim; that is the society of Chaucer's time. This is not a book that teaches you how to, say, fix a leaky faucet; this book is the reason why you should leave that leaky faucet, to be transported into another realm, which precedes and shares our time.

If you like to listen to stories about people, read The Canterbury Tales. It is a masterpiece, but not for the faint of heart. It's best to read a modern translation since Chaucer's English is tricky to understand. Chaucer died before he finished his tales and those of us who enjoy his writing lose out because of it.