Geoffrey Chaucer’s *The Canterbury Tales* (late 14th century) is both a vivid portrait of medieval life and a timeless study of human nature. Written in Middle English—the living language of Chaucer’s England—it gathers a diverse group of pilgrims journeying to Canterbury, each telling stories that reveal wit, faith, desire, hypocrisy, and laughter. The work’s brilliance lies in its variety: bawdy fabliaux, courtly romances, moral sermons, and fables all mingle in a single tapestry of voices. Reading it in the original language is demanding but deeply rewarding: you’ll hear the rhythm and humor as Chaucer’s first audience did, and glimpse the roots of modern English. A glossed edition (with notes or a facing-page translation) will ease the way, allowing the vitality of Chaucer’s verse—its sharp observation, compassion, and playfulness—to shine through as freshly now as six centuries ago.

**Editions** [available from your local library or online]:
*The Canterbury Tales: Seventeen Tales and the General Prologue*. A Norton Critical Edition, Third Edition, Edited by V.A. Kolve and Glending Olsen. New York: W.W. Norton & Co. 2018. ISBN: [9781324000563](https://www.bookfinder.com/isbn/9781324000563/?author=&binding=ANY&condition=ANY&currency=USD&destination=US&firstEdition=false&isbn=9781324000563&keywords=&language=EN&maxPrice=&minPrice=&noIsbn=false&noPrintOnDemand=false&publicationMaxYear=&publicationMinYear=&publisher=&bunchKey=&signed=false&title=&viewAll=false) Used: $13+

*The Selected Canterbury Tales.* A New Verse Translation by Sheila Fisher. New York: W.W. Norton & Co. 2012. ISBN: [9780393341782](https://www.bookfinder.com/isbn/9780393341782/?author=&binding=ANY&condition=ANY&currency=USD&destination=US&firstEdition=false&isbn=9780393341782&keywords=&language=EN&maxPrice=&minPrice=&noIsbn=false&noPrintOnDemand=false&publicationMaxYear=&publicationMinYear=&publisher=&bunchKey=&signed=false&title=&viewAll=false&mode=BASIC) Used: $7+ [Middle Eng/Modern Eng on facing pgs]

*The Riverside Chaucer.* Third Edition. Edited by F.N. Robinson. New York: Oxford Univ. Press, 2008. ISBN: [9780199552092](https://www.bookfinder.com/isbn/9780199552092/?author=&binding=ANY&condition=ANY&currency=USD&destination=US&firstEdition=false&isbn=9780199552092&keywords=&language=EN&maxPrice=&minPrice=&noIsbn=false&noPrintOnDemand=false&publicationMaxYear=&publicationMinYear=&publisher=&bunchKey=&signed=false&title=&viewAll=false) Used $25+

**Online via Zoom**
RSVP for the link.

**Schedule of Readings [P&T=Prologue and Tale]:**
Nov 2, 2025 -Front matter, General Prologue,
**Nov 16th - The Knight's Tale**
Nov 30th - Miller's P&T, Reeve's P&T
Dec 14th - Wife of Bath's P&T,
Dec 28th - Friar's P&T, Summoner's P&T
Jan 11th, 2026 - Clerk's P&T, Merchant's P&T
Jan 25th - Franklin's P&T, Pardoner'P&T, Prioress's P&T
Feb 8th - Nun's priest's P&T, Second Nun's P&T, Manciple's P&T, Chaucer's Retraction

**Summary of previous sessions:**
[Meetup Summary -Chaucer](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MBcyPmh0Gak0rXBHuLz2A51AD4QAKS6l/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=111874115194559240505&rtpof=true&sd=true)

**Resources**:
Benjamin McEvoy: [How to Read The Canterbury Tales](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFEEUCOywb8) [video]
Liz Picard: *Chaucer's People: Everyday Lives in Medieval England*. New York: Norton, 2019. ISBN: [9781324002291](https://www.bookfinder.com/isbn/9781324002291/?author=&binding=ANY&condition=ANY&currency=USD&destination=US&firstEdition=false&isbn=9781324002291&keywords=&language=EN&maxPrice=&minPrice=&noIsbn=false&noPrintOnDemand=false&publicationMaxYear=&publicationMinYear=&publisher=&bunchKey=&signed=false&title=&viewAll=false&mode=BASIC) Used: $6+
Donald R. Howard: *Chaucer: his life, his works, his world.* New York: Fawcett, 1989. ISBN: [9780449903414](https://www.bookfinder.com/isbn/9780449903414/?author=&binding=ANY&condition=ANY&currency=USD&destination=US&firstEdition=false&isbn=9780449903414&keywords=&language=EN&maxPrice=&minPrice=&noIsbn=false&noPrintOnDemand=false&publicationMaxYear=&publicationMinYear=&publisher=&bunchKey=&signed=false&title=&viewAll=false&mode=BASIC) Used: $6+

For 2026 [subject to change]:
Chaucer: *Troilus and Cressida*
Virgil: *Georgics*/*Aeneid*
Ovid: *Metamorphosis* /*Erotic Poems*
Homer: *Iliad*/*Odyssey*

David Johnson

Andrea Basora

Peregrine Beckman

Let's Read! Classic Poetry from the Western Canon

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Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, 11-16-25, 2nd of 8 Sessions

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Let's Read! Classic Poetry from the Western Canon

Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, 11-16-25, 2nd of 8 Sessions

Let's Read! Classic Poetry from the Western Canon

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