30 review for Canterbury Tales (Usborne Classics Retold)

1. 

   5 out of 5

   Chelsea Hagen – Nov 21, 2016

   I really enjoyed this book and will probably read it again and again. I like that the stories were wrote over 600 years ago and they are still really great stories for this day and age.

2. 

   5 out of 5

   Kathleen Dixon – Apr 18, 2020

   I tried giving the original (well, a modern English version of the original) a go some while ago, but I decided it was going to be too much hard work. When I saw this on the library database I got it out for James - he has now read Usborne versions of a number of classics - and thought it'd be a good idea for me to read it as well. So now I know the basics. I tried giving the original (well, a modern English version of the original) a go some while ago, but I decided it was going to be too much hard work. When I saw this on the library database I got it out for James - he has now read Usborne versions of a number of classics - and thought it'd be a good idea for me to read it as well. So now I know the basics.

3. 

   5 out of 5

   Johanna – Feb 10, 2019

   At one point I plan to read the ye olde English version and this was a nice translation.

4. 

   5 out of 5

   Mark Gannon – Mar 12, 2019

   It is easy to see why The Canterbury Tales have lasted as long as they have. There is plenty of observational humor, short romantic stories, morality tales and some self deprecation humor. An excellent read that will no doubt last another six hundred years. Five stars.

5. 

   5 out of 5

   Joanne – Jul 30, 2017

   had a go at reading the original but it was far too much - enjoyed this retelling. not as informative about the middle ages as I would have liked though.

6. 

   5 out of 5

   Laurie Smith – Nov 13, 2016

   An enlightening book. Geoffery Chauser, the author and narrator, tells the tale of a group of pilgrims travelling from London to Canterbury. They meet in an inn on the night before they set off. Harry, the innkeeper, obtains agreement from each pilgrim to tell a tale to pass the time while travelling. On the journey, each pilgrim tell a story that reveals a great deal about their character. The book gives you insight to life in the 1300's. The stories are very different to tales you here in our a An enlightening book. Geoffery Chauser, the author and narrator, tells the tale of a group of pilgrims travelling from London to Canterbury. They meet in an inn on the night before they set off. Harry, the innkeeper, obtains agreement from each pilgrim to tell a tale to pass the time while travelling. On the journey, each pilgrim tell a story that reveals a great deal about their character. The book gives you insight to life in the 1300's. The stories are very different to tales you here in our age. Some of the tales are about knights, alchemy or relationships between men and women. I read the modern English version not in verse.

7. 

   5 out of 5

   Martin – Oct 06, 2012

   A gem of wit and history! I feel honoured to make the pilgrimage with Geoffrey Chaucer. But the morals that each pilgrim derives from each story are as different as their diverse personalities. As always, my favourite parts of the book: 1) "questio quid juris?" [p19] 2) "And you'll be our judge?" I asked. "Ah! Geoffrey," boomed Harry. "How kind of you to ask." [p20] A cunning way of self-appointing. 3) (about a Knight and a Loathly Lady): "...and from that moment on they were the happiest couple in the wo A gem of wit and history! I feel honoured to make the pilgrimage with Geoffrey Chaucer. But the morals that each pilgrim derives from each story are as different as their diverse personalities. As always, my favourite parts of the book: 1) "questio quid juris?" [p19] 2) "And you'll be our judge?" I asked. "Ah! Geoffrey," boomed Harry. "How kind of you to ask." [p20] A cunning way of self-appointing. 3) (about a Knight and a Loathly Lady): "...and from that moment on they were the happiest couple in the world, becasue they gave each other both trust and freedom." [p80]

8. 

   5 out of 5

   Kate – Sep 12, 2013

   Really enjoyed some of the stories that I read in this, even though it was required for my lit class. Out of all of the ones I read, my favorite was the Wife of Baths tale. I enjoy stories of King Arthur and knights of chivalry and I loved how the man changed from being lustful and power hungry, to becoming loyal and a faithful husband. The style of Chaucer's writing is also incredibly well-done, but thank God for my interlinear translation or I would NOT understand the middle english. Overall, Really enjoyed some of the stories that I read in this, even though it was required for my lit class. Out of all of the ones I read, my favorite was the Wife of Baths tale. I enjoy stories of King Arthur and knights of chivalry and I loved how the man changed from being lustful and power hungry, to becoming loyal and a faithful husband. The style of Chaucer's writing is also incredibly well-done, but thank God for my interlinear translation or I would NOT understand the middle english. Overall, a very interesting read.

9. 

   5 out of 5

   Christopher Weinrich – Oct 22, 2013

   Written is easy-to-read prose rather than verse, this is a very approachable version. The humor of the original comes through, though there are a few translations that try too hard to be modern. Overall, though, a quick and entertaining intro to Medieval English culture and morality.

10. 

    5 out of 5

    Blake Winton – Dec 31, 2011

    It was a pretty light read, but there's no way I was going to read the original, so this seemed like a reasonable compromise. It was a pretty light read, but there's no way I was going to read the original, so this seemed like a reasonable compromise.

11. 

    4 out of 5

    It's Me – Mar 14, 2020

    Usborne made this most classic of English tales easily accessible and captured the wit and entertainment of this 14th century bestseller.

12. 

    4 out of 5

    Slow Man – Feb 16, 2014

    I must say what a treat these tales are. They may be old fashioned but when they are retold in modern language, they are still funny, Some silly, entertaining, shocking and full of wisdom.

13. 

    4 out of 5

    Lavinia –

14. 

    5 out of 5

    Tamarah –

15. 

    5 out of 5

    Vilde Kongtorp –

16. 

    5 out of 5

    Jacqueline freegard –

17. 

    5 out of 5

    Liesbeth –

18. 

    5 out of 5

    Loes –

19. 

    4 out of 5

    Tibbles Fautima –

20. 

    5 out of 5

    Lisa –

21. 

    5 out of 5

    Jasmine –

22. 

    5 out of 5

    Matti Ukkola –

23. 

    5 out of 5

    Gabriel Castro –

24. 

    4 out of 5

    El –

25. 

    5 out of 5

    Eline –

26. 

    5 out of 5

    Tabrez Kaiser –

27. 

    4 out of 5

    Erica –

28. 

    5 out of 5

    Natalie –

29. 

    4 out of 5

    Katrien –

30. 

    4 out of 5

    Annie –