This peerless new edition of Chaucer's complete works is the fruit of many years' study, and replaces Robinson's famous edition, long regarded as the standard text. Freshly edited and annotated, the Riverside Chaucer is now the indispensable edition for students and readers of Chaucer.
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'... indispensable for scholars and beginners alike ... Professor Larry D Benson ... deserves a medal both for organizing a formidable team of American and British scholars and for the excellence of his own contributions. IBooks -- IBooks
'This is a comprehensive, readable ... and up-to-date edition of the first major English poet ... the Riverside editors have served their poet handsomely. The new texts are improvements on which reveal just how brilliant an editor Robinson was, despite his limited access to the manuscripts.' Robin Lister The Guardian -- Robin Lister The Guardian
'an enormous advance on its predecessor ... particularly in its informative introductory materials, glossary ... and the addition of explanatory notes at the foot of each page. At well over 1,300 pages, it must be a bargain.' Country Life -- Country Life
`The Riverside Chaucer, like its predecessor and companion the Riverside Shakespeare, is beautiful to look at and a sensuous delight to handle. Within its stout covers the entire works of the father of English literature are displayed in fine clear type with very adequate footnote glossaries. The linguistic, historical and literary scholarship are a masterpiece of Anglo-American collaboration. The reading of Chaucer is made into an exquisite pleasure, not a philological chore. This is the best edition of Chaucer in existence.' Anthony Burgess -- Anthony Burgess
`offers a much-needed shot in the arm to Chaucer studies in colleges and universities' Modern Language Review -- Modern Language Review
'This is a comprehensive, readable ... and up-to-date edition of the first major English poet ... the Riverside editors have served their poet handsomely. The new texts are improvements on which reveal just how brilliant an editor Robinson was, despite his limited access to the manuscripts.' Robin Lister The Guardian -- Robin Lister The Guardian
'an enormous advance on its predecessor ... particularly in its informative introductory materials, glossary ... and the addition of explanatory notes at the foot of each page. At well over 1,300 pages, it must be a bargain.' Country Life -- Country Life
`The Riverside Chaucer, like its predecessor and companion the Riverside Shakespeare, is beautiful to look at and a sensuous delight to handle. Within its stout covers the entire works of the father of English literature are displayed in fine clear type with very adequate footnote glossaries. The linguistic, historical and literary scholarship are a masterpiece of Anglo-American collaboration. The reading of Chaucer is made into an exquisite pleasure, not a philological chore. This is the best edition of Chaucer in existence.' Anthony Burgess -- Anthony Burgess
`offers a much-needed shot in the arm to Chaucer studies in colleges and universities' Modern Language Review -- Modern Language Review
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 36 people found the following review helpful
By B. Tovey
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
Let's get the bad points over and done with: it's heavy. In fact, that's the only bad thing about this otherwise simply fantastic edition. And, let's face it, it's not a text you'll just want to slip into your back pocket for a wait at the doctor's surgery, is it? The texts are given illuminating introductions, which are worth reading before starting the poems themselves as they provide a great "way-in" to the texts. The notes and glossary are invaluable. Chaucer is really not difficult to read once you're used to the langauge, and even the best translations don't do him justice. If you must buy a translation, buy prose ones - avoid those such as Coghill's which attempt to reproduce rhyme and metre as they add too much extraneous matter to the original texts. This edition fully justifies Chaucer's reputation as a seminal English poet - hopefully it will introduce readers to the whole range of his works as well as the justly famous Canterbury Tales.
29 of 29 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
The Riverside Chaucer has become the scholar's standard, and rightly so. Chaucer's texts are supported by brief individual introductions, detailed explanatory and textual notes and a glossary - giving those new to Chaucer a wealth of useful information. The general introduction outlines and explains Chaucer's language and style. It is easy to use and the text isn't crowded by too much detail - it's there if you want it, but not forced onto the reader. Yes, it is heavy - but what else do you expect from a complete works?!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Andrew Page
Format:Paperback
I can't imagine a better edition of Chaucer's works being released. It contains all of the major works in the original Middle English, competently edited and presented in a well-organised, intelligent fashion, with comprehensive introductions, annotations and glossary. Chaucer is rightly considered to be the most important English poet before the Renaissance. You can practically see Anglo-Saxon developing into Modern English on the page, in Chaucer's original poems and his innovative adaptations of classical and Continental forms to the vernacular. Indeed, Chaucer has had an immesureable impact on our language and literature, which is why these works have to be read in the original language. On top of being the cornerstone of medieval English literature, these collected works are also an invaluable insight into the lives and minds of those who lived in Chaucer's time - as well as a darned good read.
17 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By Catfish
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
Of course this is a wonderful edition containing all of Chaucer's works, accompanied by detailed notes and a thorough glossary. However, for those hoping that the annotations will provide you with a full social and historical context, I'd just like to mention that the Riverside Chaucer tends to "send you off" to other academic books about Chaucer or about life in medieval England. I found this very unhelpful, expecting notes to give me certain insight into Chaucer's life and thought as well as historic contexts, but most of the help comes in the form of "For Chaucer's view of women, see [insert title of book and year of publication]" sending you off to very academic books that not everyone has access to. Of course, this is brilliant if you're looking for a list of books to read for your dissertation, but if you're reading Chaucer just out of interest then you will find very few explanations of themes or social contexts. Personally, I prefer the individual Oxford Student Texts, the notes tell you everything you need to know and explain the text wonderfully; sadly though, the OST have only published some of the Canterbury Tales, and of those that have been published there is just a handful.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
This includes the majority of texts written by Chuacer himself. It has clear and concise notes and footnotes throughout. It is excellent for academic usage and also can be a very useful thing for the avid Chaucer reader. It is a definite must for any Chaucer reader's bookshelf!
11 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
You don't do just as well with a translation. Buy this. You'll use it for years. In terms of value for money it must be unsurpassed. Utterly incredible.
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Excellent value, and the book was exactly as described if not better, also came in a reasonable time.
My only niggle is that the book could have been better wrapped. It came in a plastic delivery bag which offered little protection and as a result the corners of the book were damaged. I would prefer to be charged more for packaging if it meant no damage. But that said I would absolutely buy from again , as I said great value.
My only niggle is that the book could have been better wrapped. It came in a plastic delivery bag which offered little protection and as a result the corners of the book were damaged. I would prefer to be charged more for packaging if it meant no damage. But that said I would absolutely buy from again , as I said great value.
By heleen
Format:Paperback
I am really happy with this book. It was very cheap and in good condition. It arrived pretty quick as well. No complaints at all!
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