The Canterbury Tales

Pilgrims, parables, and poetic power—Chaucer's masterpiece lives on. The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer is one of the most influential works in English literature. Told by a diverse group of pilgrims traveling to Canterbury, these stories weave humor, morality, romance, and social satire into a rich portrait of medieval life. From the bawdy to the profound, every tale reveals timeless truths about human behavior. Written in Middle English in the late 14th century, this collection remains a cornerstone of literary study, historical insight, and narrative invention.