Quotes from book
The Canterbury Tales

The Canterbury Tales

The Canterbury Tales is a collection of 24 stories that runs to over 17,000 lines written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer between 1387 and 1400. In 1386, Chaucer became Controller of Customs and Justice of Peace and, in 1389, Clerk of the King's work. It was during these years that Chaucer began working on his most famous text, The Canterbury Tales. The tales 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.


Geoffrey Chaucer photo

“In his owen grese I made him frie.”

The Reeve's Tale, l. 6069
The Canterbury Tales

Geoffrey Chaucer photo

“And for to see, and eek for to be seie.”

The Wife of Bath's Tale, l. 6134
The Canterbury Tales

Geoffrey Chaucer photo

“Allas! allas! that evere love was synne!”

The Wife of Bath's Prologue, l. 614
The Canterbury Tales