Table Of ContentTable of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
The General Prologue - Here bygynneth the Book of the Tales of Caunterbury
The Knight’s Tale - Heere bigynneth the Knyghtes Tale
The Miller’s Prologue - Heere folwen the wordes bitwene the Hoost and the
Millere
The Miller’s Tale - Heere bigynneth the Millere his tale
The Reeve’s Prologue - The prologe of the Reves Tale
The Reeve’s Tale - Heere bigynneth the Reves Tale
The Cook’s Prologue - The prologe of the Cokes Tale
The Cook’s Tale - Heere bigynneth the Cookes Tale
The Man of Law’s Prologue - The wordes of the Hoost to the compaignye
The Man of Law’s Tale - Heere begynneth the Man of Lawe his tale
The Epilogue to the Man of Law’s Tale
The Wife of Bath’s Prologue - The prologe of the Wives Tale of Bathe
The Wife of Bath’s Tale - Heere bigynneth the Tale of the Wyf of Bathe
The Friar’s Prologue - The Prologe of the Freres Tale
The Friar’s Tale - Heere bigynneth the Freres Tale
The Summoner’s Prologue - The Prologe of the Somonours Tale
The Summoner’s Tale - Heere bigynneth the Somonour his Tale
The Clerk’s Prologue - Heere folweth the Prologe of the Clerkes Tale of
Oxenforde
The Clerk’s Tale - Heere bigynneth the Tale of the Clerk of Oxenforde
The Merchant’s Prologue - The Prologe of the Marchantes Tale
The Merchant’s Tale - Heere bigynneth the Marchantes Tale
The Merchant’s Epilogue
The Squire’s Prologue
The Squire’s Tale - Here bigynneth the Squieres Tale
The Franklin’s Prologue - The Prologe of the Frankeleyns Tale
The Franklin’s Tale - Here bigynneth the Frankeleyns Tale.
The Physician’s Tale - Heere folweth the Phisiciens Tale
The Pardoner’s Prologue - Heere folweth the Prologe of the Pardoners Tale
The Pardoner’s Tale - Heere bigynneth the Pardoners Tale
The Shipman’s Tale - Heere bigynneth the Shipmannes Tale
The Prioress’s Prologue - The Prologe of the Prioresses Tale
The Prioress’s Tale - Heere bigynneth the Prioresses Tale
Prologue to Sir Thopas - Bihoold the murye wordes of the Hoost to Chaucer
Sir Thopas - Heere bigynneth Chaucers Tale of Thopas
The Monk’s Prologue - The murye wordes of the Hoost to the Monk
The Monk’s Tale - Heere bigynneth the Monkes Tale
The Nun’s Priest’s Prologue - The prologe of the Nonnes Preestes Tale
The Nun’s Priest’s Tale - Heere bigynneth the Nonnes Preestes Tale of the Cok
...
The Epilogue to the Nun’s Priest’s Tale
The Second Nun’s Prologue - The prologe of the Seconde Nonnes Tale
The Second Nun’s Tale - Heere bigynneth the Second Nonnes Tale of the lyf of
...
The Canon’s Yeoman’s Prologue - The Prologe of the Chanouns Yemannes Tale
The Canon’s Yeoman’s Tale - Heere bigynneth the Chanouns Yeman his Tale
The Manciple’s Prologue - Heere folweth the Prologe of the Maunciples Tale
The Manciple’s Tale - Heere bigynneth the Maunciples Tale of the Crowe
The Parson’s Prologue - Here folweth the myrie words of the Parsoun
Chaucer’s Retractions - Here taketh the makere of this book his leve
Translation, retelling and introduction copyright © Peter Ackroyd, 2009 Illustrations copyright © Nick
Bantock, 2009
All rights reserved
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING IN PUBLICATION DATA
Ackroyd, Peter, 1949-
Canterbury tales / by Geoffrey Chaucer ; translated and adapted by Peter Ackroyd.
p. cm.
eISBN : 978-1-10115563-9
1. Christian pilgrims and pilgrimages—Fiction. 2. Canterbury (England)—Fiction. 3. Chaucer, Geoffrey, d.
1400--Adaptations. I. Chaucer,
Geoffrey, d. 1400. Canterbury tales. II. Title.
PR1872.A35 2009
821’.1—dc22
2009026829
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The General Prologue
Here bygynneth the Book of the Tales of Caunterbury
When the soft sweet showers of April reach the roots of all things, refreshing the
parched earth, nourishing every sapling and every seedling, then humankind
rises up in joy and expectation. The west wind blows away the stench of the city,
and the crops flourish in the fields beyond the walls. After the waste of winter it
is delightful to hear birdsong once more in the streets. The trees themselves are
bathed in song. It is a time of renewal, of general restoration. The sun has passed
midway through the sign of the Ram, a good time for the sinews and the heart.
This is the best season of the year for travellers. That is why good folk then long
to go on pilgrimage. They journey to strange shores and cities, seeking solace
among the shrines of the saints. Here in England many make their way to
Canterbury, and to the tomb of the holy blissful martyr Thomas. They come
from every shire to find a cure for infirmity and care.
It so happened that in April I was lodging at Southwark. I was staying at the
Tabard Inn, ready to take the way to Canterbury and to venerate the saint. There
arrived one evening at the inn twenty-nine other travellers and, much to my
delight, I discovered that they were all Canterbury pilgrims. They came from
various places, and from various walks of life, but they all had the same
destination. The inn was spacious and comfortable enough to accommodate us
all, and we were soon at ease one with another. We shared some ale and wine,
and agreed among ourselves that we would ride together. It would be a
diversion, a merry journey made in good fellowship. Before the sun had gone
down, we had determined to meet at dawn on the following day to make our way
along the pilgrims’ road.
Before we begin our travels, however, I want to introduce you to the men and
women who made up our company. If I describe their rank, and their
appearance, you may also acquire some inkling of their character. Dress, and
degree, can be tokens of inward worth. I will begin with the Knight.
The KNIGHT, as you might expect, was a man of substance and of valour.
From the start of his career as a warrior he had fought for truth and honour, for
