kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review against another edition
4.0
What is it about Terry Jones? He's not very physically attractive. He's funny; that's true. But there is something very sexy about the way he writes history.
Chaucer's Knight changed the way people look at Chaucer's Knight. He's not all that of a nice guy when you read this. If you don't really like [b:The Canterbury Tales: Nine Tales and the General Prologue|37782|The Canterbury Tales Nine Tales and the General Prologue (Norton Critical Editions)|Geoffrey Chaucer|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1168980021s/37782.jpg|2955293], but like Terry Jones, you should read this. It is a good companion to his [b:Terry Jones' Medieval Lives|20645|Terry Jones' Medieval Lives|Terry Jones|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1167298469s/20645.jpg|1311330].
Jones makes a good case for the knight being a satire upon English mercenaries who fought in Italy (Sir John Hawkwood got quite a bit of play in Jones' Medieval Lives). The book is factual withouot being dull.
Chaucer's Knight changed the way people look at Chaucer's Knight. He's not all that of a nice guy when you read this. If you don't really like [b:The Canterbury Tales: Nine Tales and the General Prologue|37782|The Canterbury Tales Nine Tales and the General Prologue (Norton Critical Editions)|Geoffrey Chaucer|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1168980021s/37782.jpg|2955293], but like Terry Jones, you should read this. It is a good companion to his [b:Terry Jones' Medieval Lives|20645|Terry Jones' Medieval Lives|Terry Jones|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1167298469s/20645.jpg|1311330].
Jones makes a good case for the knight being a satire upon English mercenaries who fought in Italy (Sir John Hawkwood got quite a bit of play in Jones' Medieval Lives). The book is factual withouot being dull.
depizan's review
4.0
Definitely for those with a strong interest in English literature of the middle ages, or in European history of the middle ages, but I recommend it for those who have an interest in one or both. While I think I'd have gotten more out of it if I were more familiar with The Canterbury Tales, I still found it an interesting read. (My relevant background/interest is in history, not literature.)
Jones includes enough excerpts that the book is perfectly readable even if you haven't read The Canterbury Tales. He also includes information about other interpretations of The Knight's Tale, and the book has an extensive bibliography, should one want to track down more information and debate about the story and what Chaucer may have intended. The book is basically an extremely readable, book-length scholarly examination. (So don't go in expecting a popular history sort of thing. But, at the same time, it is very readable.)
Jones includes enough excerpts that the book is perfectly readable even if you haven't read The Canterbury Tales. He also includes information about other interpretations of The Knight's Tale, and the book has an extensive bibliography, should one want to track down more information and debate about the story and what Chaucer may have intended. The book is basically an extremely readable, book-length scholarly examination. (So don't go in expecting a popular history sort of thing. But, at the same time, it is very readable.)
nickyjwatkinson's review
4.0
Although he didn't totally convince me, Jones's argument was thoroughly researched and well argued, and I will be bearing it in mind in my future consideration of the Canterbury Tales. The book was well written and helpfully broken up so if there's ever anything I want to check, I'll know where to look. An enjoyable and relatively quick read that also provides a helpful overview of Chaucer criticism over the years.
myxomycetes's review
4.0
A fun, informative read that presents itself in small chunks. A fascinating slow read.
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