A TASTE OF CHAUCER: Selections from The Canterbury Tales

by Anne- Ed. & Trans. Malcolmson ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 1964

The editor-translator states her objective clearly in the introduction: to give young readers a ""taste"" of Chaucer in which the power, humor and diversity of his art is evident; she has succeeded admirably in accomplishing this-- with regard to translation, explanations, and selection. She has organized the material in a manner which will be of the greatest benefit to her readers. In the short biography of Chaucer, the parts taken from official records are distinguished from statements which are probably conjectures. Prefacing each selection are lucid explanations of various relevant subjects (e.g. the state of knighthood in Chaucer's day, the position of the squire in the social order) so that the reader does not have to flip back and forth awkwardly from text to definitions. Samples of the original text are given before each selection, and in the translations, the original is closely adhered to line by line. Wherever possible, without distorting the sense or strength of Chaucer's words, renderings are even in meter and rhyme. The insight and humor of Chaucer become apparent in the nine carefully selected tales (some are excerpts). Miss Malcolmson has chosen well for a junior audience.

Pub Date: March 1, 1964

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Harcourt, Brace & World

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1964

Categories: FICTION