"Now that I have drunk a draught of golden barley ale, I understand by God that it is only natural that I should come up with a good story that you will all enjoy." In The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer created one of the most important cornerstones of English literature: a masterful collection of chivalric romance, moral allegory, and vulgar humor. A storytelling contest among a group of pilgrims from all walks of life gives rise to a series of tales, ranging from the Knight's tale of courtly love and the vivid Arthurian legend of the Wife of Bath to the obscene anecdotes of the Miller and the Cook. Rich and diverse, The Canterbury Tales offer us an unparalleled glimpse into the life and thought of medieval England. Nevill Coghill's masterful and lively modern English verse translation is executed with great skill to preserve all the vibrancy and poetry of Chaucer's fourteenth-century Middle English.