Canterbury Tales, Volume II.

CANTERBURY TALES, VOLUME II. Geoffrey Chaucer. Read by Philip Madoc, Frances Jeater, Charles Simpson, John Rowe, John Moffatt. 1387-1400/2002.3 cds. 3.5 hrs. Naxos AudioBooks. 9-626-34256-0. $19.98. Plastic; content notes. Includes: "The Wife of Bath's Tale"; "The Clerk's Tale"; "The Reeve's Tale"; "The Nun's Priest Tale." SA *

Chaucer's Tales, even though 600 years old, make a superb audio. Written as though a transcription of conversation and storytelling, the stories ideally suit the audio format. All five readers are superb, each inhabiting their character as a fully realized person. The stories evoke a brilliantly detailed and human portrait of an exotic time and place--England in the Middle Ages. They contain deft, frequently ironic characterizations of distinct, recognizable personalities, from upper to lower class.

While the four tales collected in Volume II create a themed grouping, focusing on marriage from a variety of perspectives--controversial, traditional, bawdy, parody--all of Chaucer's Tales really live in the vitality of the language and characters and the wit and wisdom of the author. Frank Ernest Hill's 1935 "modernization" of Chaucer's Middle English is accessible, although close attention is still needed. The Wife's Tale, told first, is the least accessible. Jacqueline Edwards, Bedford, MA

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code help librarian and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.

*--The asterisk highlights exceptional books.