A love of old books

[larryhammer]

For this reading of The Canterbury Tales, I have three copies on hand: (1) a selection (spelling lightly modernized) that fits in my pocket, (2) an old (1958) Everyman's Library edition* (spelling lightly regularized) that doesn't fit in a pocket, but is still more portable than (3) a first (1933) edition of what would become the Riverside Chaucer -- from Houghton Mifflin's series of Cambridge Poets. This last copy is one of my favorite kind of collection: used textbooks. In this case, only the General Prologue has marginalia, but there's another treasure -- taped inside the front cover is a mimeographed syllabus.

It was a fifteen-week course, two classes per, taken in the winter term (Oct-Jan) of an unknown year. The Knight gets five lectures, while one covers the Miller and Reeve together. Alison's prologue takes two days, her tale one, followed by one for the Friar, Summoner, and Clerk together. The prose tales of Melibee and the Parson aren't on the menu (tho' the latter's prologue is). Supplementary readings from "L. & W." are some Gower (with Alison's tale), Sir Orfeo (with Squire), the Golden Legend (with Prioress), "Bestiary" (with Nun's Priest), and in the end, "Pilgrims in Canterbury" -- one wonders just what that is. Three quizzes plus a final exam, and a term paper due during the Franklin's lecture.

Intellectual archeology is fun.

BTW, for those prefer their literature monosyllabic, I once translated the General Prologue into words of one beat.

* NB: Do not read the introduction if grinding misogyny hurts your teeth.

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Ninja Replacement Scores of Canterbury Tales, continuing report:

Shipman's Tale: Another one where ninjas are not the way to improve it. NRS = 0.

Prioress's Tale: Would be immensely improved if the Jews really were ninjas, instead of merely being accused of it. However, we don't get a count of the number who were drawn and quartered. Maybe we can make do with the one who actually killed the boy, and assume he rescued the others. NRS = 1 or higher.

Chaucer's Tale: Sir Thopas Goes to Town: Thopas dealing with a ninja = comedy gold, yes -- but not necessarily better gold than what we have. NRS = 0.

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There are reasons the tale of Melibee isn't taught much. It's kicking my ass.

---L.

Comments

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

In the book I just read, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (set in China in the 19th cent.), the women would definitely have had a better time of it if they had been ninjas!

[larryhammer]

I can imagine. Not the best era in China for women, that.

---L.

[returnoftheblog.livejournal.com]

Given that the ninja arts actually originated in China (before making their way to Japan), maybe the women were ninjas but were just too good for anyone to notice they were?

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Now there's a happy thought! I like to think that they were dancing circles around everyone, including me-the-reader. Ahh, yes, I feel much better for them, thinking that :-D

[jennifer-j-s.livejournal.com]

I'll bite. Why are maps sexy?

[larryhammer]

If you have to ask, clearly you weren't the sort of kid who could be pacified in the back seat by being given an atlas.

---L.

[(Anonymous)]

No, I was the kind of kid who threw up if I tried to read in the car. See you in a few hours at the Jane Yolen event!

[gillpolack.livejournal.com]

There were Jewish pirates - we definitely need Jewish ninjas. If we don't have Jewish ninjas then that whole pirates vs ninja thing becomes less fun. Can I volunteer for secret ninja training? Are middle-aged overweight female Jewish ninjas allowed?

[larryhammer]

I think the overweight female ninjas run the dojos.

---L.

[returnoftheblog.livejournal.com]

NINJEWS!