Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales between 1387 and 1400, as a series
of stories told by a group of thirty people who travel as pilgrims to
Canterbury. The pilgrims come from every part of society, tell each
other tales to pass the tile while they travel, offering romance, farce,
philosophy, religion and satire in a ribald reflection of humankind.
FLAME TREE's Great Works That Shape Our World is a new series of
definitive books drawing on ancient, medieval and modern writing.
Offering a fund of essential knowledge, and spell-binding stories it
satisfies every facet of human interest: scientific, philosophical,
sociological, romantic, dramatic and mysterious. From the ancient wisdom
of the Mahābhārata to the curious power of Don Quixote, Boccaccio's
Decameron and Melville's classic Moby Dick, from the scientific wonders
of Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein to the great thinkers of Western and
Asian philosophy.
Created to entertain, inform and enrich, the new series brings infinite
variety to refresh the mind, presented in beautiful editions for the
modern market. Each book features a new, accessible introduction,
specially written for these editions, placing the book in context both
as part of the new series, and highlighting its special contribution to
the advancement of human understanding; they examine the significance of
each work, their impact at time of publication, and their influence
today.
