Canterbury Tales, Vol. 1 (Modern English Verse Translation) (Read by Anthony Donovan, with Anton Lesser, Philip Madoc, Clive Merrison, and others)

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.

"Even with only five tales (not including the Prologue), this production includes a good mix of the stately and the satirical in Chaucer's masterpiece. Classical actor Edward de Souza delivers the "Knight's Tale" with appropriate nobility, while Anthony Donovan injects levity into the bawdy "Miller's Tale." In a similar pairing of opposites, the "Merchant's Tale" and the "Franklin's Tale" present contrasting views on marriage, though it might have been nice to include one of the tales narrated by women. Nonetheless, all six readers are sensitive to the rhythm and rhyme of the translation, and the interludes of medieval music also add a splash of flavor."
--Review by Dan Bortolotti, Audiofilemagazine