BARD OF THE MIDDLE AGES The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer

Why is Chaucer, next to Shakespeare, the most important writer in English? In these 14 scholarly and broadly informed lectures, Professor Drout suggests why in an easy, unassuming way. True to Chaucer, his presentation is boyish, almost playful, not in the least pedantic. Like Chaucer, as well, Drout matches language to subject. Where the subject is crude, as in "The Miller's Tale," the language must be, but unlike the Miller's, it is tasteful. The lectures range from biography and historical background to complete corpus, stressing heavily the major works and their classical roots. Like all Modern Scholar productions, this comes with an excellent handbook, notes, and suggestions for further reading. P.E.F. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 05/ JAN 06]