Beyond its importance as a literary work of unvarnished genius, Geoffrey Chaucer’s unfinished epic poem is also one of the most beloved works in the English language–and for good reason: It is lively, absorbing, perceptive, and outrageously funny. But despite the brilliance of Chaucer’s work, the continual evolution of our language has rendered his words unfamiliar to many of us. Esteemed poet, translator, and scholar Burton Raffel’s magnificent new unabridged translation brings Chaucer’s poetry back to life, ensuring that none of the original’s wit, wisdom, or humanity is lost to the modern reader. This Modern Library edition also features an Introduction by the widely influential medievalist and author John Miles Foley that discusses Chaucer’s work as well as his life and times.
The Canterbury Tales (Modern Library)
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“A delight . . . [Raffel’s translation] provides more opportunities to savor the counterpoint of Chaucer’s earthy humor against passages of piercingly beautiful lyric poetry.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Masterly . . . This new translation beckons us to make our own pilgrimage back to the very wellsprings of literature in our language.” —Billy Collins
“The Canterbury Tales has remained popular for seven centuries. It is the most approachable masterpiece of the medieval world, and Mr. Raffel’s translation makes the stories even more inviting.”—Wall Street Journal
“Masterly . . . This new translation beckons us to make our own pilgrimage back to the very wellsprings of literature in our language.” —Billy Collins
“The Canterbury Tales has remained popular for seven centuries. It is the most approachable masterpiece of the medieval world, and Mr. Raffel’s translation makes the stories even more inviting.”—Wall Street Journal
About the Author
Geoffrey Chaucer was born in London about 1340, the son of a well-to-do and well-connected wine merchant. In 1360, after his capture while fighting in the French wars, Edward III paid his ransom, and later Chaucer married Philippa de Roet, a maid of honor to the queen and sister-in-law to John of Gaunt, Chaucer's patron.
Chaucer's oeuvre is commonly divided into three periods: the French (to 1372), consisting of such works as a translation of the Roman de la Rose and The Book of the Duchess; the Italian (1372-1385), including The House of Fame, The Parliament of Fowls and Troilus and Criseyde; and the English (1385-1400), culminating in The Canterbury Tales. In 1400, he died, leaving 24 of the apparently 120 tales he had planned for his final masterpiece. Chaucer became the first of England's great men to be buried in the Poet's Corner of Westminster Abbey.
Peter G. Beidler is the Lucy G. Moses Distinguished Professor of English at Lehigh University. He is the author of a dozen books and more than 150 articles. In the summer of 2005 he directed a seminar for high school teachers on Chaucer's Canterbury Comedies (the seminar was supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities). He and his wife Anne have four children.
From the Paperback edition.
Chaucer's oeuvre is commonly divided into three periods: the French (to 1372), consisting of such works as a translation of the Roman de la Rose and The Book of the Duchess; the Italian (1372-1385), including The House of Fame, The Parliament of Fowls and Troilus and Criseyde; and the English (1385-1400), culminating in The Canterbury Tales. In 1400, he died, leaving 24 of the apparently 120 tales he had planned for his final masterpiece. Chaucer became the first of England's great men to be buried in the Poet's Corner of Westminster Abbey.
Peter G. Beidler is the Lucy G. Moses Distinguished Professor of English at Lehigh University. He is the author of a dozen books and more than 150 articles. In the summer of 2005 he directed a seminar for high school teachers on Chaucer's Canterbury Comedies (the seminar was supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities). He and his wife Anne have four children.
From the Paperback edition.
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26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
For more reviews, go to www.alexctelander.com, and the BookBanter podcast: http://bookbanter.podbean.com,
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This review is from: The Canterbury Tales (Modern Library) (Hardcover)
THE CANTERBURY TALES BY GEOFFREY CHAUCER, TRANSLATED BY BURTON RAFFEL: The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories written by one of the greatest writers in history, up there with William Shakespeare himself. Originally published in the late fifteenth century, it has appeared on high school reading lists, and serves as one of the most important medieval texts - if not the most important - ever written and published.
Chaucer tells the story of 29 pilgrims who set out on pilgrimage from London to Canterbury. Pilgrimage was a common event in many people's lives in the medieval world, especially if they were looking to be pious and guarantee their ascent into heaven; it was also a good way for those who had committed sins to be absolved of their actions. The Host of this pilgrimage sets the stage in the "General Prologue" by asking each of the pilgrims to tell four stories; two on the way to Canterbury, and two on the way back to London. The storytelling will help pass the time, but will also serve to enlighten the group about the lives and actions of the pilgrims. While Chaucer never fully completed his 124 stories, ending at 22,, there is nevertheless a wide selection of stories from most of its main characters. "The Knight's Tale" is the story about two royal Theban cousins who love the same woman. There's "The Wife of Bath's Tale," as she discusses her life of five husbands and the importance and sacrifice she has made in marriage and being a wife. "The Miller's Tale" mocks the life of a carpenter who is fooled into believing a flood is coming, while the clerk sleeps with his wife. In the final story, "The Parson's Tale," the Parson talks for a long time about the importance of being just and pious and faithful to God. The Canterbury Tales is not just a collection of entertaining stories from the fifteenth century, but is a most fascinating insight into the way of life of these people, what they considered funny or sad, what they wore and ate, and what sort of a role the church truly played in their lives. Chaucer even inserts himself into his book, arguing back and forth with the Host, as he is challenged to tell a superior story. In this new translation from Burton Raffel, much of the original text is preserved, even though Raffel admits that in any translation, it is ultimately going to be different as it is that, a translation. Nevertheless, where possible, Raffel keeps and maintains the rhyming scheme, giving life to the stories and making the old oral tradition of storytelling come alive off the page. This new translation of The Canterbury Tales is perfect for anyone who enjoys these old texts, or for a student having trouble reading the early Middle English; it is even ideal for families to learn through reciting the stories aloud and hearing these classics come to life through voice, as they were originally meant to.
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Another wretched "translation" by Raffel,
This review is from: The Canterbury Tales (Modern Library) (Hardcover)
As usual, what is presented as "translation" by Raffel is really a retelling and adaptation, changing and omitting whatever he chooses. Below are the first lines of Chaucer in the original, followed by a reasonably accurate translation into modern English, followed by Raffel.
Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote The droghte of March hath perced to the roote, And bathed every veyne in swich licour Of which vertu engendered is the flour; When April, with his sweet showers, has penetrated the drought of March to the root and bathed every vein in a sweet liquor by which the flower is engendered; When April arrives, and with his sweetened showers, Drenches dried-up roots, gives them power To stir dead plants and sprout the living flowers That spring has always spread across these fields, What happened to Chaucer's "March"? And the whole last line is Raffel's invention. And this is by no means Raffel's most egregious moment. Leaving aside the issue of whether an modern English version is really a worthy project (Isn't the point of reading Chaucer, the language? And doesn't a good set of page notations allow one to experience the original?), this book is not what it claims to be.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Chaucer's oeuvre in superb translation,
By Dag Stomberg (St. Andrews, Scotland) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Canterbury Tales (Modern Library Classics) (Paperback)
These translations/interpretations do take their inspiration from Chaucer but are freely adapted for the modern reader. This a capital retelling of the "The Canterbury Tales" in which the pilgrims in 14th century England give very interesting stories as they travel to the cathedral at Canterbury. Over the years I tried the original, a few critical editions and now have come to the conclusion Burton Raffel has produced a masterful 'work of art' to be fully appreciated! Dag Stomberg St. Andrews, Scotland
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