Lak of Stedfastnesse - 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: Chaucer's Greatest Work
Disadvantages: Problems with reading Middle English

...Chaucer’s ‘CanterburyTales’, which appeared some time in the 1380s, has done his reputation a disservice in that its popularity and reasonable accessibility has led most people other than Chaucer scholars to ignore a very much greater work :’Troilus and Criseyde’. The ‘Tales’ are a valuable social and historical document. They are for the most part lively and amusing. The interplay between the various individuals telling the tales is a delight. Such is the charm of the work that its manifold faults are usually ignored. Some of the tales are very tedious, especially the one told by Chaucer himself. The style is often clumsy, that of someone who has not yet found his full voice. In a sense, it’s like the early works of Dickens, in which you see the potential for greatness not yet achieved. Like the work by Dickens, too... 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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