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ANOTHER TELLING OF 'TALES'

December 28, 2008 12:35 am

MODERN Library's new release of Burton Raffel's translation of Chaucer's classic volume, "The Canterbury Tales," is a worthy and attractive addition to the bibliophile's library.

Raffel, a distinguished scholar, reviews in his foreword the vast changes in the English language that have evolved over the centuries since the original publication of "Canterbury Tales" in the 1300s; changes that have accelerated even in the last 50 years.

Noting that the original text is almost incomprehensible to modern readers, in this work Raffel provides an accessible interpretation of the poet's Middle English verse.

Chaucer's famous stories are "told" by a disparate group of pilgrims who represent various strata of society of the times. From the perspective of a knight to that of a lowly plowman, themes of religion, treachery, romance and more are presented in lyrical, inspiring language.

This volume is another opportunity to savor the genius of a man whose work many consider the basis of modern literature.

Beverly Meyer is a copy editor at The Free Lance-Star.