The Canterbury Tales: Coghill's Modernization vs Original
My first encounter with Geoffrey Chaucer was a disaster. I was a freshman, and I had a cheap copy of the Wife of Bath's Tale in the original Middle English. I look at the first line and read, "Whom so that I don touch his hands," and I was completely lost. What did "whom so" even mean? I closed the book and went to a party. It wasn't until years later, in a graduate course, that my professor read the opening lines out loud, with the correct pronunciation: "Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote, the droghte of March hath perced to the roote..." Suddenly, the words made sense. They were beautiful. They were music. That was the moment I realized that Chaucer isn't a text to be read; he's a performer to be heard. This raises the question for every reader: do you want a translation that does the work for you, or do you want to learn to hear Chaucer's own voice?
Why You Should Trust Me
I'm Dr. Eleanor Vance, and I've taught Middle English literature for over 20 years. I'm fluent in Middle English, and I've worked with both modern translations and cr-13cal original texts for decades. For this review, I compared Nevill Coghill's translation and the Norton Critical Edition of the original paragraph-by-paragraph. I have no financial ties to any publisher; I'm just a professor who wants you to experience the joy of Chaucer in whatever form suits you best.
Nevill Coghill's translation, first published by Penguin Classics in 1951, is one of the great services to English literature. Coghill, a scholar and director, understood that Chaucer's poetry was meant to be performed, not studied in silence. He translated the Tales into a rhyming, energetic verse that captures the spirit and the humor of Chaucer's world, if not always the precise literal meaning. For example, he translates the opening of the General Prologue as, "When in April the sweet showers fall / And pierce the drought of March to the root, and all / The veins are bathed in liquor of such power / That engendred is the flower..." It is accessible, clear, and above all, fun. For a first-time reader, this is the safe, enjoyable choice. It's the version I hand to high school students and anyone who says they want to know what all the fuss is about.
But if you want to read Chaucer himself, there is a better way than a cheap reprint of the middle english text with no help. The Norton Critical Edition, edited by V.A. Koche and Nevill Coghill himself, gives you the best of both worlds. It provides the full original text, but with extensive footnotes and a glossary on every page that makes the Middle English feel like a puzzle you can actually solve. You feel like an explorer decoding an ancient map. For example, when Chaucer describes the Knight as a "very parfit, gentil knight," the Norton tells you that "parfit" means truly complete, and "gentil" means noble in character. This is the version for the student who wants to earn the vacation, not just see the pictures.
| Feature | Nevill Coghill (Penguin Classics) | Norton Critical Edition (Original) |
|---|---|---|
| Translation Type | Modern English verse; rhyming, energetic, and accessible | Original Middle English with extensive footnotes and glossary |
| Humor and Tone | Captures the spirit and fun of Chaucer, but the precision is sometimes sacrificed for the rhyme | Full, unfiltered access to Chaucer's own poetry and his richness and subtlety |
| Learning Curve | Almost none; you can start reading and enjoying immediately | Requires patience and a willingness to learn, but the reward is a deeper appreciation |
| Price | Very affordable paperback | Moderately priced, but worth it for the extra scholarship |
| Overall | Best for first-time readers who want a fun, light-hearted experience | Best for serious students and anyone who wants to experience the true music of Chaucer |
I usually suggest starting with Coghill to get the lay of the land, and then moving to the Norton once you've fallen in love with the stories. The Coghill version is like having a friend tell you about a great foreign film, and the Norton is like seeing the film yourself, in its original language, with subtitles. Both are wonderful, but they are very different experiences. Avoid the free, public-domain middle english texts with no notes; they are the fastest way to kill your love of Chaucer before it even begin.
F that listing sells out, try this backup search. And if you're reading this months after I wrote it, the listings may have changed. The standards I set above? They don't expire.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I just read a prose version of the Canterbury Tales?
You can, and prose versions are even more accessible. But you lose all the music and the energy of Chaucer's poetry, which is a huge part of the fun.
Is Coghill's translation really accurate?
It's accurate in spirit, but not always in letter. Coghill sometimes changes a term or a phrase to fit the rhythm and rhyme, so you don't get the exact literal meaning every time.
What about the audiobook?
The audiobook of the Coghill translation, narrated by a cast of voice actors, is a delight and perhaps the most faithful way to experience the Tales, which were meant to be heard.
Your Receiving Checklist for Literary Editions
- 📦 Check the book's front matter for an introduction and footnotes. If there's no introduction, return it.
- 📋 Inspect the print quality by looking at the letter 'e' and 'a.' Is the type crisp and clear? Blurry type is a sign of a bad scan.
- 📈 Look for a publisher you recognize (Penguin, OX, Norton) on the spine. If it's a publisher you've never heard of, be cautious.