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A review by futurama1979
The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
3.0
This is sort of like a dry run for the original text of the Canterbury Tales. Not that I mind that. The prose is functional and heavy, but, most importantly, it serves its purpose: to give the reader a quick retelling of each of the Canterbury Tales, without the poetry.
For me, it's a lot easier to absorb words in older English/Shakespearian English if I have an idea of what they're about first, and it allows me to focus more on the poetry/prose itself, with the worry of figuring out the story gone. So this is good for that; now, when I read Chaucer's original Canterbury Tales, I'll already have an idea of each story going in.
Don't come to this edition if you're looking for outstanding verse, poetic phrases, or a strong authorial voice. DO come to this edition if you want a functional Sparknotes on the Canterbury Tales to make future reading a little easier.
For me, it's a lot easier to absorb words in older English/Shakespearian English if I have an idea of what they're about first, and it allows me to focus more on the poetry/prose itself, with the worry of figuring out the story gone. So this is good for that; now, when I read Chaucer's original Canterbury Tales, I'll already have an idea of each story going in.
Don't come to this edition if you're looking for outstanding verse, poetic phrases, or a strong authorial voice. DO come to this edition if you want a functional Sparknotes on the Canterbury Tales to make future reading a little easier.