A knight, a monk, a merchant, a summoner, and a wife all walk into an
inn, and realize they are in the company of many others who intend to
make the same pilgrimage to Canterbury. As a group of English people all
gather at the Tabard inn, they learn that they will be travelling
together. Usually divided by their differing social classes,
professions, and beliefs, the group are united by their pilgrimage to
Canterbury, where they'll receive blessings from a Christian martyr.
Upon this realization, the host of the inn proposes a competition:
whoever can tell the best story on the journey to Canterbury wins a
lavish dinner. All enamored by the promise of a good meal, each member
takes a turn telling a story. With tales of true love, chivalry, crime,
infidelity, piety, dishonesty, and adventure, the stories of the group
humor, inspire, offend, and entertain. As the stories continue, members
of the pilgrimage party interrupt, praise, scold, and even fight other
members, enlightening them with lessons and new perspectives as they
journey to complete their pilgrimage. With feuds, jokes, love affairs,
and moral allegories, The Canterbury Tales treat audiences to a
dynamic journey crafted with exquisite prose and elegant poetry.
Originally published around 1400, Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury
Tales have since inspired many adaptations of both its plot and
narrative form. Using satire, allegory, and wit, The Canterbury Tales
is a collection of stories that explores various genres and literary
purposes, creating an incredibly inclusive narrative. This edition of
The Canterbury Tales, written by Geoffrey Chaucer, features a new
striking cover design and is printed in a modern font, crafting an
approachable experience of one of the most influential works in English
literature.
