The Canterbury Tales. By Geoffrey Chaucer. Done in Contemporary Verse by J.U. Nicolson. Limited Edition. Franklin Library. Franklin Center, 1974.

The fourteenth century poet Geoffrey Chaucer is widely regarded as the Father of English Literature. His works were some of the first to legitimize Middle English as a literary language. He also innovated on many metrical forms, developed quintessentially English humor, and established a vernacular tradition. His most famous work is undoubtedly The Canterbury Tales, a collection of stories mostly written in verse and told in a frame narrative during a pilgrimage to Canterbury. The many narrators–including the Knight, the Miller, the Wife of Bath, the Friar–have remained iconic figures in English literary history. Because the work is written in Middle English, modern readers often struggle with the text–lamenting, “Namoore of this!”–but with patience and scholarly references, it is certainly translatable. Yet readers of this version by J.U. Nicolson will find his contemporary English translation accessible and widely praised. For any collector of English literature, it is an essential volume.

This limited edition is in very good condition. In the original brown leather, elaborately gilt stamped, very good with some rubbing to edges. Gilt spine label. Raised bands. Text block very good. Gilt edges with some rubbing. Former owner’s inscription to free endpaper. Silk moire endpapers and bookmark sewn in.

A very good collector’s copy of The Canterbury Tales.