Sinossi
A faithful yet vivid modern translation of one of Chaucer’s most unforgettable stories—created by a veteran English teacher for today’s classrooms and readers.
What do women want? What do men want? Geoffrey Chaucer’s “Wife of Bath’s Tale” asks these questions with humor, sharp insight, and surprising compassion. In this lively retelling, the flamboyant Alisoun—the Wife of Bath herself—spins her famous tale of a wicked knight, a wise old woman, and a perilous quest toward redemption.
This edition is designed especially for students, teachers, and anyone who wants to enjoy Chaucer without struggling through footnotes.
✔ A modern verse translation that keeps Chaucer’s style, wit, and storytelling energy
✔ Middle English text included, fully glossed line-by-line
✔ A concise guide to reading Middle English, perfect for classroom introduction
✔ Ideal for high school British Literature, AP Literature, or college introductory medieval studies
✔ Faithful to Chaucer’s themes without modern distortion
✔ Clear, rhythmic, and accessible for pleasure reading
Teachers will appreciate how naturally this translation reads aloud and how closely it follows the sense and spirit of the original. Students will value its clarity, humor, and immediacy. General readers will enjoy the clear modern voice and the rich music of Middle English.
Sample from the translation:
Now in the days when Arthur reigned as king
(a time of which the Britons love to sing),
this land was filled with fairy-folk, I hear.
The elf-queen with her company so dear
on many meadows green would play at dances,
or so I read in all the old romances.
I speak of many hundred years ago;
These days no one can see the elves, you know.
For they have been replaced by holy men,
their memories erased by prayer and pen
and blessings on the chambers, halls, and bowers,
the kitchens, towns and cities, castle towers,
the farms, the barns, the stables and the dairies—
no wonder there’s scarce room for any fairies.
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