Canterbury Tales - Volume I, The (Short Story)

Canterbury Tales - Volume I, The

The Prologue
The Knight's Tale
The Miller's Tale
The Pardoner's Tale
The Merchant's Tale
The Franklin's Tale

Chaucer's greatest work, written towards the end of the fourteenth century, paints a brilliant picture of medieval life, society and values. The stories range from the romantic, courtly idealism of The Knight's Tale to the joyous bawdy of The Miller's; all are told with a freshness and vigour in this modern verse translation that make them a delight to hear.

The Canterbury Tales, written near the end of Chaucer's life and hence towards the close of the fourteenth century, Is perhaps the greatest English literary work of the Middle Ages: yet it speaks to us today with almost undimmed clarity and relevance.

Chaucer imagines a group of twenty-nine pilgrims who meet in the Tabard Inn in Southwark, intent on making the traditional journey to the martyr's shrine of St Thomas a Becket in Canterbury. Harry Bailly landlord of the Tabard, proposes that the company should entertain themselves on the road with a storytelling competition. The teller of the best tale will be rewarded with a supper at the others' expense when the travellers return to London. Chaucer never completed this elaborate scheme - each pilgrim was supposed to tell four tales, but in fact we only have twenty-four altogether - yet, with the pieces of linking narrative and the prologues to each tale, the work as a whole constitutes a marvellously varied evocation of the medieval world which also goes beyond its period to penetrate (humorously, gravely tolerantly) human nature itself.

Chaucer, as a member of this company of pilgrims, presents himself with mock innocence as the admiring observer of his fellows, depicted in the General Prologue. Many of these are clearly rogues - the coarse, cheating Miller, the repulsive yet compelling Pardoner - yet in each of them Chaucer finds something human, often a sheer vitality or love of life which is irresistible: the Monk may prefer hunting to prayer, but he is after all a manly man, to be an abbot able. Perhaps only the unassuming, devoted Parson and his humbly labouring brother the Ploughman rise entirely above Chaucer's teasing irony; certainly the Parson's fellow clergy and religious officers belong to a Church riddled with gross corruption. Everyone, it seems, is on the make, in a world still recovering from the ravages of the Black Death.

Publisher: NAXOS
Author: Geoffrey Chaucer
Narrator: Full Cast Production
ISBN: 9 62634 044 4

Alan and Thora

Until the time of her death in 2003, much-loved actress Thora Hird worked regularly with the playwright Alan Bennett. Now, in a specially written introduction and postscript, Bennett recalls his work and friendship with Thora, and introduces three examples of their collaboration.

The Last of the Sun
Dolly's remaining days in an old people's home are enlivened by a seemingly respectable man. Recorded in 2002, Thora Hird's last ever performance, in a part written especially for her, is moving and memorable.

A Cream Cracker Under the Settee
Doris has taken a fall at home, and until someone comes to rescue her she's left immobile and in reflective mood. This monologue, from the first series of Talking Heads, features one of Thora's best-remembered performances.

Waiting for the Telegram
Remembering how she lost her first young man, Violet does not see how close she is to losing her second. Thora Hird won a BAFTA for Best Actress for her performance in this monologue from the second Talking Heads series.

Written By
Alan Bennett
Music composed by George Fenton
Introductions produced by Colin Smith

THE LAST OF THE SUN
Dolly.................Thora Hird
Originally broadcast on BBC7 in 2004
Produced by Colin Smith
Recorded at Broadcasting House in 2002

A CREAM CRACKER UNDER THE SETTEE
Doris ................Thora Hird
Policeman ..........Steven Beard
Originally broadcast on BBC1 in 1988
Re-recorded for audio and broadcast on BBC Radio 4
Produced by Innes Lloyd
Directed by Stuart Burge

WAITING FOR THE TELEGRAM
Violet ................Thora Hird
Originally broadcast on BBC2 in 1998
Produced by Mark Shivas
Directed by Stuart Burge

Publisher: BBC Audiobooks Ltd
Author: Alan Bennett
Narrator: Various
ISBN: 0563 52347 6