Chaucer Geoffrey Translated with Introduction Notes by David Wright (2 results)

Soft Cover. Condition: Very Good-. Reprint. PB, picrtorial card covers, 483pp. General rubbing, creasing to covers, inside has tanning to page edges, else square, clean & tight, with no text markings noted. Size: 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall.

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket, as Issued. First Folio Edition. A first printing of the first Folio Society one-volume edition, published in 1998. The first Folio Society edition of this translation was originally published as a parallel text with the original Middle English text in three volumes in 1986. With wood engravings throughout the text, and with a twelve-page Introduction by David Wright. ***A fine copy in faux-vellum boards blocked in gilt, with a red cloth-covered spine lettered in gilt. The boards are bright and clean. Page block edges clean. Binding straight with no reading lean. Internally also near fine with no inscriptions or annotations. Pages clean and bright. No creases or tears. Spine tight. ***In a near fine red slipcase, which is also unblemished. No marks, creases or splits. ***241mm x145mm. xxii prelim-pages plus 519 pages of text. ***'The Canterbury Tales is a collection of twenty-four stories that runs to over 17,000 lines written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer between 1387 and 1400. It is widely regarded as Chaucer's magnum opus. The tales (mostly written in verse, although some are in prose) are presented as part of a story-telling contest by a group of pilgrims as they travel together from London to Canterbury to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. The prize for this contest is a free meal at the Tabard Inn at Southwark on their return. It has been suggested that the greatest contribution of The Canterbury Tales to English literature was the popularisation of the English vernacular in mainstream literature, as opposed to French, Italian or Latin. English had, however, been used as a literary language centuries before Chaucer's time, and several of Chaucer's contemporaries -- John Gower, William Langland, the Pearl Poet, and Julian of Norwich -- also wrote major literary works in English. It is unclear to what extent Chaucer was seminal in this evolution of literary preference. The Canterbury Tales is generally thought to have been incomplete at the end of Chaucer's life. In the General Prologue, some 30 pilgrims are introduced. According to the Prologue, Chaucer's intention was to write four stories from the perspective of each pilgrim, two each on the way to and from their ultimate destination, St. Thomas Becket's shrine (making for a total of about 120 stories). It is revered as one of the most important works in English literature.' (Wiki) ***A first printing of the first Folio Society single volume edition, in fine condition, in a fine slipcase. The text of this edition is based on the 1985 Oxford University Press edition. Set at the Folio Society in Photina. Printed at The Bath Press, Avon, on Balmoral Book Wove at Butler & Tanner Ltd. Frome, and b by them in quarter cloth with Art Vellum sides blocked with a design by John Andrew (As stated on the printer's page). A beautiful gift item for a Chaucer enthusiast. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.