THE CANTERBURY TALES by Geoffrey Chaucer - FULL AudioBook | Part 1 of 2 | Greatest AudioBooks

THE CANTERBURY TALES by Geoffrey Chaucer - FULL AudioBook | Part 1 of 2 | Greatest AudioBooks - The Canterbury Tales (Middle English: Tales of Caunterbury) is a collection of over 20 stories written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century, during the time of the Hundred Years' War. The tales (mostly written in verse, although some are in prose) are presented as part of a story-telling contest by a group of pilgrims as they travel together on a journey from Southwark to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. The prize for this contest is a free meal at the Tabard Inn at Southwark on their return.

After a long list of works written earlier in his career, including Troilus and Criseyde, House of Fame, and "Parliament of Fowls", The Canterbury Tales is near-unanimously seen as Chaucer's magnum opus. He uses the tales and the descriptions of its characters to paint an ironic and critical portrait of English society at the time, and particularly of the Church. Structurally, the collection resembles The Decameron, which Chaucer may have read during his first diplomatic mission to Italy in 1372.

It is sometimes argued that the greatest contribution The Canterbury Tales made to English literature was in popularising the literary use of vernacular, English, rather than French or Latin. English had, however, been used as a literary language centuries before Chaucer's time, and several of Chaucer's contemporaries—John Gower, William Langland, the Pearl Poet, and Julian of Norwich—also wrote major literary works in English. It is unclear to what extent Chaucer was responsible for starting a trend as opposed to simply being part of it.

While Chaucer clearly states the addressees of many of his poems, the intended audience of The Canterbury Tales is more difficult to determine. Chaucer was a courtier, leading some to believe that he was mainly a court poet who wrote exclusively for nobility. (Summary adapted from wiki)

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Chapter listing and length:

01 -- Preface -- 00:06:21
Read by: Gesine

02 -- The Life of Geoffrey Chaucer -- 00:58:18
Read by: Chip

03 -- The General Prologue -- 00:39:00
Read by: Thomas Hoover

04a -- The Knight's Tale -- 01:06:20
Read by: Ted Delorme

04b -- The Knight's Tale -- 01:19:51
Read by: Ted Delorme

05 -- The Miller's Tale -- 00:54:42
Read by: Gord Mackenzie

06 -- The Reeve's Tale -- 00:23:26
Read by: Alex Foster

07 -- The Cook's Tale -- 00:07:51
Read by: Chip

08 -- The Man Of Law's Tale -- 01:19:51
Read by: Chip

09 -- The Wife of Bath's Tale -- 01:03:23
Read by: Kristin LeMoine

10 -- The Friar's Tale -- 00:22:53
Read by: Kara Shallenberg

11 -- The Sompnour's Tale -- 00:43:03
Read by: Chip

12 -- The Clerk's Tale -- 01:20:06
Read by: Chip

FOR BOOKS 13-28 SEE PART 2:

13 -- The Merchant's Tale -- 01:21:25

14 -- The Squire's Tale -- 00:31:34

15 -- The Franklin's Tale -- 00:43:41

16 -- The Doctor's Tale -- 00:17:01

17 -- The Pardoner's Tale -- 00:40:02

18 -- The Shipman's Tale -- 00:27:36

19 -- The Prioress's Tale -- 00:15:06

20 -- The Tale of Sir Thopas -- 00:10:12

21 -- Chaucer's Tale of Meliboeus -- 00:36:01

22 -- The Monk's Tale -- 00:47:29

23 -- The Nun's Priest's Tale -- 00:47:07

24 -- The Second Nun's Tale -- 00:27:43

25 -- The Canons Yeoman's Tale -- 00:37:28

26 -- The Manciple's Tale -- 00:17:04

27 -- The Parson's Tale -- 00:54:57

28 -- Preces de Chauceres -- 00:03:48

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[bigd-ina]

All stories in the Bantam books copy (that are in this part):
Prologue--- 1:05:20
The Knight's Tale--- 1:44:30
The Miller--- 4:10:20
The Wife of Bath--- 6:56:10

[jasonlira]

To everybody who is complaining that the readers did not use a Middle English "accent" -- Middle English is more than an accent; it's almost a different language. A modern English speaker would have a difficult time following the story told in authentic Middle English unless s/he had a book to refer to. I support the choice of modernizing the poem for this medium, although the original version is quite beautiful. 

[AncientLiteratureDude]

A wonderful resource graciously provided. If anyone is interested in hearing what the Tales sounded like in their original Middle English and following along with the actual text, I have a complete reading of the General Prologue on my channel and am working on recording the rest of the tales.

[GlitterBug]

This is literally saving my life! I'm taking a class on the Canterbury Tales, and I needed this audiobook.

[ThaevynTheFool]

Chaucer (and the man who eventually printed the Canterbury Tales but I don't remember his name) wrote/published this work in English (instead of French or Latin) specifically to make them more accessible to regular people at the time. Therefore, some may argue that this being read today in American English more accurately preserves the intended reach and effect these two men wished for the work to have on society. If I were the author, I would be honoured that my stories were so treasured for so long that the language I wrote them in had enough time to evolve, and that through my work I had directly influenced how the evolution had taken place.

[urchincreature]

Thank you for providing this free resource. I have difficulty reading for long periods of time, so it is invaluable to my study of the middle ages. Although I do enjoy the Middle English and did miss its presence, I understand your decision to use a modern, American, pronunciation, for the sake of accessibility to a particular audience.
Chaucer has me laughing out loud in several passages. An understanding of 14th century material culture, events and society has enhanced my understanding of this poetry.
Thanks again.

[yakacm]

wow 111, 500 views, that's very impressive and heartening, thanks for uploading and reading.

[Zephon]

Chaucer would've been a sick rapper...

[franciscorojoolavarria]

An inmense job, admirable, very well done, worthy of congratulatins and my sincere gratitude.

[Cantbuyathrill]

I bequeath a quiff of choicest fragrance.
Inhale thee, 'tis my essence
which you now savor madly.

[quimoniz]

1:04:50 actual start (after boring opinionated preface)

[francesjolly]

Love these explainations but was looking for something different. Thank you so very much.

[wendyrollason]

I’m learning about this in my English class

[sherrysyed]

Oh lovely lovely lovely this is such a nice narration thank you

[Rossyrey]

If you don't like this accent read or buy the book/audiobook there are plenty out there this one is free so stop complaining!!!!

[kernowarty]

This starts with a woman who speaks like she has just been told she has terminal cancer but at least she is English.  Then goes on to an American or Canadian man who does the introduction and then an American woman who reads the tales.  I am English and think Chaucer can only effectively be read by an English man or woman.

[sassandsavvy]

thank you so much for uploading Chaucer's masterpiece which is not only wonderful literature but also a vivid picture of the time.

Sadly, the beautiful picture it comes with is neither English nor Medieval...

[DaveSCameron]

5 minutes in and still yarning on to sway us what we have to think..

[Chrissiehelp]

I'm already bored, by this introduction. The robotic voice does nothing for me. If only, this wonderful book could be told, properly.

[mediamartyr]

The way the reader says outsider in was very country and I loved it