The Canterbury Tales
The Canterbury Tales by Peter Ackroyd, published by Viking in 2009, is a modern prose retelling of Chaucer’s classic work, spanning 436 pages. This edition captures the vigorous and bawdy spirit of the original poem while making it accessible to contemporary readers. Ackroyd presents a diverse group of pilgrims who gather at a London inn on their journey to Canterbury, engaging in a storytelling competition that showcases a range of narratives from comedy to tragedy.
Readers will find that Ackroyd’s retelling emphasizes the humanity of the characters and the humor inherent in Chaucer’s writing. The tales reflect the complexities of medieval society and the drama of the human condition, offering insights into various aspects of life during that era. This edition not only preserves the essence of Chaucer’s verse but also invites a new appreciation for the stories that have influenced literature throughout the ages.
Official synopsis Publisher
A fresh, modern prose retelling captures the vigorous and bawdy spirit of Chaucer’s classic
Renowned critic, historian, and biographer Peter Ackroyd takes on what is arguably the greatest poem in the English language and presents the work in a prose vernacular that makes it accessible to modern readers while preserving the spirit of the original.
A mirror for medieval society, Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales concerns a motley group of pilgrims who meet in a London inn on their way to Canterbury and agree to take part in a storytelling competition. Ranging from comedy to tragedy, pious sermon to ribald farce, heroic adventure to passionate romance, the tales serve not only as a summation of the sensibility of the Middle Ages but as a representation of the drama of the human condition.
Ackroyd’s contemporary prose emphasizes the humanity of these characters—as well as explicitly rendering the naughty good humor of the writer whose comedy influenced Fielding and Dickens—yet still masterfully evokes the euphonies and harmonies of Chaucer’s verse. This retelling is sure to delight modern readers and bring a new appreciation to those already familiar with the classic tales.
@AprilFools Oh and the Wyfe of Bathe. Talk about a woman who likes to be perced to the roote.
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