Geoffrey Chaucer Books

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Kane tells the story of the development of Chaucer in the context of his time. The climax is in the chapter on Troilus and Cressida ' called ' From Master Craftsman to Philosopher' and from the chapter on 'The Canterbury Tales' called 'The Human Tragicomedy'. In writing of the creation of the Canterbury Tales he says "Chaucer accepted that he was temperamentally incapable of competing with a poem as egoistic as the Divine Comedy; he would experiment with another concept of comedy radically differentiated from Dante's kind first by the self- effacement of the poet, and second by the absence of judgment and condemnation like that which Dante had people his ' Inferno'.
Kane develops a clear line in understanding the development of Chaucer. However he in doing so fails to consider the Robertson- Huppe interpretation of Chaucer which sees him as a fundamentally Christian artist. He too in seeming to vie for the alternative of a sophisticated, secular skeptical Chaucer precludes another perception of his world - view. The Chaucer scholar Sheila Delany has written about Chaucer's ' skeptical fideism' in which he believes in Christian doctrine and at the same time has a skeptical attitude.
Kane's volume is a good one but by no means comprehensive even in regard to the main outline of the Chaucer story. It is interesting that he writes of the last period of Chaucer's life as one in which he is disappointed, and has voluntarily given up writing. Most recently a line of thought has emerged suggesting that Chaucer was in fact assassinated for political reasons.

After the disappointment of "Chaucer and the Legend of Good Women," I was happy to find myself deeply absorbed with the goings-on in "Chaucer and the Doctor of Physic." Suspenseful and intriguing, this third Chaucer installment is definitely the best mystery novel in the series so far and is worth recommending as an excellent read.

Geoffrey Chaucer has only just recently returned from his diplomatic mission to Italy and is enjoying a brief respite with his family, when he is once again summoned by his king to go and sort out a spot of trouble in Devon. The captain of an Italian ship had stored his valueable cargo at the mayor of the seaport of Dartmouth's warehouse while his ship was being repaired. Unfortunately, the cargo has now been stolen, with both the sea captain and the mayor accusing each other of the theft. And because these accusations and counteraccusations could disrupt the good and lucrative relationship the English have with the Italians, Chaucer has been asked to investigate the matter and resolve it as soon as possible. Not an easy task at all given that the Mayor, rogue though he is, is a very popular figure, and the townspeople's natural hostility to foreigners and Londoners. Could that be the reason why Chaucer and his party are attacked just a few miles outside the town? Things become even more complicated and dire when a murder is committed at Richard Storey's (Chaucer's host) house and Storey's own son is implicated in the murder. Chaucer, however, is not convinced that everything is so cut and dried. There is something dark and sinister going on in the town of Dartmouth and Chaucer means to discover what it is and put and end to it...

If you enjoy the dark and atmospheric West Country mysteries that Michael Jecks pens, you will definitely enjoy "Chaucer and the Doctor of Physic." Philipa Morgan's latest effort possesses many of the same qualities that a book by Michael Jecks would possess: the dark and threatening atmosphere, the detailed descriptions of scenes, the clever layering of historical fact into the mystery at hand, an intriguing and suspenseful mystery subplot, red herring suspects, clever plot twists and turns, and credible and believably portrayed characters (I, especially liked her portrayal of Chaucer and the clever way with which she inserts characters easily recognised from Chaucer's works into her mysteries). I was hooked from the very first chapter and simply had to finish the book in one go. All in all, this was a fantastic read, and I'm eagerly looking forward to the next "Chaucer" mystery novel.

While one would never expect to find steam rolling off the pages of a text centered on medieval history, author Sheila Delany accomplishes to climax the topic for even the most uninitiated reader. Her descriptions of Hildegard of Bingen's sordid visions created a miasmic hellfire in my loins. Since when has one been so wholly transported into the visceral milieu of the medieval era?

This work in the words of Professor Besserman "interprets the significance of the pervasive biblical diction, imagery and themes in Chaucer's works in relation to the literary, social and political contexts of late medieval biblical poetics."
It enriches our knowledge not only of Chaucer but of the Medieval mindset. It also shows how a great literary artist makes use of his sources.
A true scholarly delight.

Geoffrey Chaucer's CANTERBURY TALES has been viewed within narrow parameters for nearly 600 years. Recently new insight, well worth considering, has been offered. Dolores Cullen, in her book CHAUCER'S HOST UP-SO-DOUN, tilts the TALES upside down to reveal a previously unrecognized allegorical level.

Written in our modern English, Cullen intends CHAUCER'S HOST to be readable and understood by those with only a passing acquaintance with the TALES. It actually is. Through extensive research, and possibly some divine intervention, Cullen proves that Herry Bailly, the host of the Canterbury pilgrims and judge of their tales, is another Host and judge as well. She uncovers the identity of Christ in Bailly. Given the politic and religious environment in Chaucer's time, it's understandable why he would hide this alternate level of commentary.

Cullen's vision is remarkably clear and makes one wonder why this truth was not seen before. The academic world has been too uptight about how Chaucer was to be interpreted to allow revelations. Cullen's dedication and perseverance are to be commended. Unable to ignore the masterpiece beneath the masterpiece that was unveiled for her eyes, she refused to be silent.

CHAUCER'S HOST is a wonderful gift for anyone interested in great literature, or complicated literary puzzles, for everyone from high school students to book collecters. It is certain to spark a revolution in Chaucerian studies. If any one author is going to change the world of classic literature, it is Dolores Cullen. --Lisa C. Warner

Sheila Delany provides an important insight into Chaucer's view of the world in her definition of his complex perception of religious reality . His ' skeptical fideism' his belief which incorporates doubt and question is a central sign of the sophistication of the Chaucerian world- view. Delany writes clearly and interestingly in a scholarly study which the general reader can also greatly enjoy.

Any studying the Canterbury Tales will find this a fun examination of Chaucer, providing a fresh new look at Chaucer's intentions and the scholarly debates about his works. This reveals the allegorical meaning of his full cast of pilgrims, from their relationships to their nocturnal wanderings. A 'must' for serious readers of Chaucer.

In Chaucer's work, 'The Canterbury Tales', perhaps the greatest of English literary works from the period of the language known as Middle English, there is one particular piece that have always stood out for me.

'A Clerk ther was of Oxenford also,'

This is perhaps my favourite character, as when I first read it, it seemed to epitomise what I hoped for in my own life.

'That unto logik hadde longe y-go.
....
For him was lever have at his beddes heed
Twenty bokes, clad in blak or reed,

Of Aristotle and his philosophye,
Than robes riche, of fithele, or gay sautrye,
But al be that he was a philosophre,
Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre,
But al that he mighte of his freendes hente,
On bokes and on lerninge he it spente,
and bisily gan for the soules preye
Of hem that yaf him wherwith to scoleye.
....
...gladly wolde he lerne, and gladly teche.'

Every now and then I cannot help but re-read this part of the Prologue, for a reminder of what I'm aiming for in my own life.

Chaucer was son of a wine merchant, something near and dear to my heart. Chaucer was well-read, well-phrased, well-mannered, industrious in literary and legal/administrative pursuits, as I trust I will become, if not already so qualified.

As one can see from the above examples, English has changed much over the past 600 years, but not so much as to make these passages unrecognisable. Compare for yourself with a modern translation, and see how much you can decipher.

Chaucer is one of the first great English authors of name; most (but not all) literary output in English prior to this time was anonymous. Living in the 1300s, he held administrative posts of importance under Kings from the time of Edward III to Henry IV. Never one to shrink from spending too much money (he had to reapply for pensions and ask for advances several times in his life) or shying away from controversy (he fell out of and came back into favour several times). When he died, he was laid to rest in Westminster Abbey, in a section on the south side that has since become Poet's Corner, largely due to Chaucer, the first great English poet, having been buried there.

In addition to his magnus opus, 'The Canterbury Tales', a collection of stories with prologue told by pilgrims on their journey to Canterbury (car radios and in-flight movies were rare in those days), Chaucer wrote minor poems to suit various occasions (his first record as poet comes from having written a poem as elegy on the death of John of Gaunt's first wife, Blanche, in 1369), and the major work for which he was noted for 'Troilus and Criseyde', which showed his sense of humour, power of observation and attention to detail, and keen dramatic skills in language. This work is often compared to Dante and Boccaccio, perhaps the most famous poets of the day. 'The Canterbury Tales' is actually intended to be much longer - 120 tales told by 30 pilgrims (two each on the way to Canterbury, and two each returning). As it is, there are only 24 tales plus a prologue - had it been completed, it would be by far the longest poem in the English language.

There is a strong, practical side to Chaucer's writing, sophisticated yet not aloof and removed from the affairs of the world, cultured yet in tune with the better (and more interesting) aspects of the common people, too.

This edition by E.T. Donaldson, published by the Indiana University Press, has 1000 pages of poetry, and an additional 150 pages of commentary, including essays on language construction, vocalisation, and versification.

There has been much published on Chaucer since this edition, but it still serves as an authoritative edition of the poetry (all presented in Chaucerian Middle English without Modern English renderings) as well as a source of interesting commentary.

Dinshaw's book is mandatory reading for anyone interested in the new critiques of Medieval writers. Her ideas are clearly elucidated and thought out. She explores the most important of Chaucer's works from a feminist position that takes the whole of the middle ages into consideration. Her elucidation of "Adam, The Scribe" was especially helpful.