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The Knight's Tale  By  cover art

The Knight's Tale

By: Geoffrey Chaucer
Narrated by: Richard Bebb
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Editorial reviews

Theseus returns from the wars in Thebes and imprisons the brother knights Palamon and Arcite, who both vie for the affections of Theseus's fair daughter, Emily. Here's a fascinating and surprising performance from the world's leading experts on Chaucerian pronunciation. Chaucer's evolving tongue drew from a huge melting pot of ornate Norman and Latin word endings combined with guttural Celtic and German roots. The late Richard Bebb employs a heightened performance and complete command of the original Middle English to draw out the meter, meaning, and emotion of this somber and classically based selection. This may not be the easiest listening, but hearing Chaucer's words as he heard them is well worth the effort.

Publisher's summary

The Knight's Tale of medieval wars and chivalry is the first tale told to the pilgrims as they set out to Canterbury. It concerns Theseus, returning from fighting at Thebes, and two brother knights Palamon and Arcite, imprisoned but yearning for their loves. But the real hero of this recording is Richard Bebb who, with the help of Professor Derek Brewer, the leading expert on Chaucerian pronunciation, make the original Middle English not only comprehensible to the modern ear, but exciting.

©2006 Naxos AudioBooks (P)2006 Naxos AudioBooks

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Great recording

Great story, and a great recording to match. If you want to hear Chaucer in the original middle English you'll enjoy it!

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