Tales from Chaucer

"Tales from Chaucer" is a retelling of Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales," adapted by Charles Cowden Clarke. This 1833 adaptation makes Chaucer's Middle English narratives accessible to a wider audience, preserving the original's humor and vitality while translating it into modern English. Clarke carefully selected and skillfully rephrased several of Chaucer's stories, maintaining their essence and medieval charm. The tales, set during a pilgrimage to Canterbury, feature a diverse cast of characters, including a knight, a miller, and a prioress, each telling a story reflective of their distinct personalities and social standings. This book offers a glimpse into 14th-century English society, its customs, and values. Clarke's version is celebrated for its faithfulness to Chaucer's style and spirit, making it an excellent introduction to Chaucer's work for contemporary readers and an enduring classic in its own right.