The Canterbury Tales
In recent conversations with some highly intelligent sixth formers, I'm disappointed to discover that Shakespeare and Chaucer don't seem to be staples of our English education any longer. When I was a lass, the standard texts for GCSE always included one Shakespeare play and one of Chaucer's Canterbury tales.
The Canterbury Tales are brilliant – some less well known than others, but by turns poignant, ribald, humorous, touching, thought provoking. and everywhere thoroughly human. And you really need to read the bits of dialogue between the tales as well.
I've just written a few paragraphs on the Cook's Tale for my next book – one of the lesser known tales mostly on account of it being unfinished, but it's quite fantastic. Go read.




i find myself over excited at hearing you’ll be in milton as it will be my new residence as of mid-august, looking to start at ridley end sept, woohoo.
don’t think i’ll be able to make this, but maybe…….