{"product_id":"2026200006324-secondhand-general-prologue-the-canterbury-tales","title":"General Prologue: The Canterbury Tales","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition remarks:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBook: Fair                          \u003cbr\u003eJacket: N\/A\u003cbr\u003ePages: Tanning and foxing                  \u003cbr\u003eMarkings: No markings\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA cornerstone of medieval English literature, The General Prologue serves as the masterful opening frame to Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, introducing a vivid cast of pilgrims gathered at the Tabard Inn in Southwark, each bound for the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket in Canterbury. With sharp wit and keen social observation, Chaucer presents a sweeping cross-section of 14th-century English society, from the noble Knight and the pious Prioress to the roguish Miller and the corrupt Pardoner. The tone balances gentle irony with rich descriptive detail, as each portrait simultaneously celebrates and satirizes the estates, professions, and moral failings of the age. Written in Middle English verse, the work illustrates Chaucer's extraordinary command of character, voice, and social critique, laying the groundwork for the tales that follow. Widely regarded as one of the greatest achievements in the English literary canon, it remains an indispensable text for understanding both medieval life and the origins of the English narrative tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Secondhand Stock","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48887931142363,"sku":"2026200006324-SECONDHAND","price":15.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/a6532d76-f66e-45b0-b0cd-6771fef56e34.png?v=1781749889","url":"https:\/\/bookgrocer.com\/products\/2026200006324-secondhand-general-prologue-the-canterbury-tales","provider":"Book Grocer","version":"1.0","type":"link"}