The Canterbury Tales

Written (but left unfinished) in the 1300s by the English courtier, diplomat, philosopher, and poet Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales follows a group of pilgrims traveling to Canterbury Cathedral to visit the remains of Saint Thomas á Becket. When the group stops at an inn, they agree to entertain each other on their journey by telling stories, with a reward for the traveler whose stories are best. From the noble Knight and his Squire to the spunky Wife of Bath, from the antagonistic Miller and Reeve to the Prioress, Nun, and Pardoner, Chaucer paints a vivid picture of medieval life. Even today, some 700 years after its initial publication, this classic of English literature endears itself to readers through its vivid characters, sparkling dialogue, raucus humor, and love of humanity. Important historically, it helped establish English as the language of British literature, replacing French and Latin and securing Chaucer's reputation as "the first finder of our fair language." This classic and thoroughly entertaining work has been newly designed and typeset in a large-format edition by Waking Lion Press.