My passion for English Literature really begins with Geoffrey Chaucer. Before that, the language is too foreign and needs too much hard work to translate, but with Chaucer you get what is recognisably English. I will never forget my delight in studying The Canterbury Tales at university, and since then I have always had an interest in that era of history.
The most vivid character amongst Chaucer’s pilgrims is the Wife of Bath. Lusty, gap-toothed, veteran of five marriages, and loving every moment of being on pilgrimage, she is so alive and memorable and her ‘Prologue’, in which she introduces herself in the Tales is brilliant. What fun Chaucer must have had creating this woman who so wants control of her own life in an era when such a thing was hard to attain.
I recently picked up a copy of The Good Wife of Bath by Australian author Karen Brooks, and really enjoyed the way she imagined the five marriages and personal history of this immortal character.
She gave good background to the medieval era, its food, smells, customs and prejudices, and makes you feel that you are there too. Geoffrey Chaucer is a character in the story – wise, humorous, unhappily married, and working for the King as a controller of customs. It’s a long book (a bit too long, in my view), but an enjoyable read.
Much of my interest in the 14th century began with a novel about Katherine Swynford, mistress of John of Gaunt and ancestor to future kings of England. Katherine was sister to Geoffrey Chaucer’s wife, Philippa and again, in that novel, he appears as a very sympathetic character. The book is Katherine by American historical novelist Anya Seton, and it was published in 1954. It has one of the most memorable kissing scenes I’ve ever come across – somehow that kiss has stayed with me since I read the novel as an impressionable teenager. Katherine’s life as royal mistress was not an easy one, but she was an important figure in English history, and I love the novel’s picture of medieval life.
And, of course, you could always try reading The Canterbury Tales, the collection of 24 tales written between 1387 and 1400 (the work is probably incomplete). There is a good ‘translation’ by Nevill Coghill, but I love to try and read them in the original and spend time with the Pardoner, Miller, Reeve, Knight, Prioress and all the other companions to the Wife of Bath, who take that road to Canterbury from London.
Have you read The Canterbury Tales? Or have your read Katherine by Anya Seton? Let me know your thoughts in a comment.
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The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, Translated by Nevill Coghill
The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
The Good Wife of Bath by Karen Brooks
Katherine by Anya Seton
Who was Geoffrey Chaucer
History Reclaimed: The Wife of Bath: A Biography
Katherine Swynford
John of Gaunt
TED-Ed: Everything you need to know to read The Canterbury Tales
Susannah Fullerton: Geoffrey Chaucer dies
Susannah Fullerton: Meet A Book Addict – Geoffrey Chaucer
Julie Sweeten
I enjoyed studying The Canterbury Tales at university but I absolutely loved Katherine by Anya Seton, it was one of my favourite books. I was honoured to assist Jennifer Byrne with her research when she discovered she was descended from Joan Beaufort and Katherine with John of Gaunt.
Susannah Fullerton
I like that you share my love for ‘Katherine’. Jennifer Byrne is lucky to have such a fascinating ancestor.
Jim Goding
The Wife of Bath anticipated Donald Trump: “It’s all for sale, and let him win who can”.
Susannah Fullerton
Yes, she is demanding and selfish, but I think I’d rather have her in charge of the USA than the terrible Trump!
Heather Grant
I have read the book The Good Wife of Bath by Karen Brooks some time ago and enjoyed it. We studied some of the Canterbury Tales at High School and were also taken to see a production of some of the tales at the old Town Hall – so many years ago now. I thoroughly enjoyed the performance and reading the tales.
I must get the complete Canterbury Tales to add to my ever growing collection. We now live in Port Macquarie and my husband states I’m a sub branch of the main library. However, he returned to Sydney this morning to visit his sister and was given a list to go to Dymocks or Abbeys to purchase your May issue of the two Jane Austen books and also The Real Enid Blyton by Natalie Cohen.
One can never have too many books! 📕
Susannah Fullerton
I agree – one can never have too many books. I’ll have another fabulous one to recommend in my next newsletter.
So glad you are taking up so many of my recommendations.