I appreciate having the modern prose translation, which made getting an insight into the medieval world easier for me. I'm sure I could have read the original, but it would have taken much more time and concentration.
In some ways, humanity hasn't changed much... ( )

This wasn't quite what I was expecting. From the blurb I had in my head that this would be a modern take on the Canterbury Tales with modern stories. I suppose I was expecting the knight to me, for example, a major in the Army. Not sure that some of the characters of religious persuasion translate as easily, but you could probably inf a charlatan or two or faith healers and the like to fill some of the less savory roles.
As it was, it was a loose translation (as opposed to a word for word translation). Once I'd got my head round that as an idea, then it was OK. I've read a translation previously which did retain the poetry structure, while this does not (except for effect). That made it easy to listen to. I'm not sure that it didn't detract form the experience though. It's been a while since I read this, so it was interesting to see what I remembered immediately and what I had no recollection of what so ever.
As ever, you can only marvel at the breadth Chaucer's vision and wish that he had actually managed to complete the task. ( )

I haven't read the original so this retelling was accessible. Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales come from a motley group of pilgrims who meet in a London inn on their way to Canterbury. They agree to take part in a storytelling competition to keep them entertained on the way. The stories range from comedy to tragedy, pious sermon to ribald farce, heroic adventure to passionate romance. They also reflect the attitudes of the time, especially towards women. Not really my cup of tea, but I'm glad to have read this retelling. ( )

Peter Ackroyd has undertaken a re-writing of The Canterbury Tales in modern English prose. He has made these stories accessible to the modern reader, thereby giving us a glimpse of life in medieval times -- morals, beliefs, customs and occupations. Some of the stories were great; others less engaging. But I'm glad to have been able to get a taste of the Canterbury Tales. ( )

To rewrite Chaucer in today's idiom invites disdain from the purists, but for one such as me, whose education omitted both this vital classic, and the linguistic tools that would have given me access to the original, Ackroyd has here done much to fill the gap that I have always known. Of course I cannot more than guess at what might have been left out, but I found the version highly illuminating, and even rather curious concerning the ways in which the modern idiom might have refreshed the original. No doubt those who are better educated, and privileged with the ability to hear clearly the master's intentions might find faults, because Ackroyd's viewpoint must needs be idiosyncratic. But I learned much, and not just from Ackroyd's sweet and stimulating prose. I feel I now have an inkling of why Chaucer's work was so important. ( )