THE CANTERBURY TALES

This fine prose version probably brings listeners as near to Chaucer's Middle English original as the modern ear can come. Translator Gerald J. Davis has preserved much of the rhythm and even the rhyme of the original verse, while updating the language and syntax. As narrator, John Hanks maintains a consistent tone for tales that range from the ribald to the sententious, and his voice is much like you'd imagine Chaucer's own: wise, congenial, good-humored. The tales are, as ever, a mixed delight, some locked in medieval thinking, others as fresh as tomorrow. This production is a good choice for those who want to sample a few tales or gain a general understanding before tasting the distinctive flavor of the original. D.A.W. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2020]