Gentilesse - Geoffrey Chaucer

Advantages: A true classic of the English language
Disadvantages: In Middle English without translation, it can be difficult to read

...In Chaucer's work, 'The Canterbury Tales', perhaps the greatest of English literary works from the period of the language known as Middle English, there is one particular piece that have always stood out for me. 'A Clerk ther was of Oxenford also,' This is perhaps my favourite character, as when I first read it, it seemed to epitomise what I hoped for in my own life. 'That unto logik hadde longe y-go. .... For him was lever have at his beddes heed Twenty bokes, clad in blak or reed, Of Aristotle and his philosophye, Than robes riche, of fithele, or gay sautrye, But al be that he was a philosophre, Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre, But al that he mighte of his freendes hente, On bokes and on lerninge he it spente, and bisily gan for the soules preye Of hem that yaf him wherwith to scoleye. .... ...gladly wolde he lerne, and gladly... Read review

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Advantages: A great read (if you like this sort of thing, obviously)
Disadvantages: No longer in print, so getting hold of a copy isn't as easy as popping down to Waterstones

...I'll make no bones about it - this is one of my favourite books. It's been everywhere with me (holidays, conferences, hospital... you name it) and every time I pick it up it's like seeing an old friend again. The book is very well written, and is even more impressive when you realise that the people in the book were real. Obviously I don't want to give away all the ins and outs of the story, as Anya Seton writes it far better than I ever could, but as these were real people, and their existence was well documented, a few historical facts won't spoil anything! All I'll say is, if you historical novels light your candle, then give this one a go. Right, time for the history lesson... Katherine de Roet was born in Picardy in the 14th century, and travelled to England with her sister Philippa (who later married Geoffrey Chaucer - yes... Read review

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Advantages: English literature at its finest
Disadvantages: None

...are the difficult ones. Children are not the kindest of critics and I knew full well that a book of a different kind would be running when I spoke the words of whatever passage I chose. The other pupils took bets on how many words I would fail over. When this trial was due all around were stunned to see my hand go up into the air and to hear me volunteer to be the first to perform; I had a plan! Geoffrey Chaucer and the Canterbury Tales were going to rescue me from my tormentors. I had read the book many times in a version translated into modern English by Professor Neville Coghill and always it had made me laugh out loud and I was certain that one in particular of its wonderful stories would so transfix my audience that they wouldn’t notice how poorly I delivered it to them. So it proved, the gambling was abandoned as all about me lost count of my... Read review

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