The Untold Tale: Chaucer’s Extraordinary Journey to The Canterbury Tales

In 1386, when Geoffrey Chaucer began what was to become one of the greatest pieces of writing in the English language, "The Canterbury Tales," he also endured one of the most trying years of his life.  Besieged by a series of disastrous events, he was left unemployed, separated from his wife, broke, and exiled from London.  Isolated in Kent, far away from the life he had known, he wrote his way out of misery.  Separated from his London audience he invented a portable one, his immortal Pilgrim band.  Paul Strohm, Garbedian Professor at Columbia and recent Tolkien Professor at Oxford, discusses Chaucer’s fascinating journey in his new book, "Chaucer’s Tale: 1386 and the Road to Canterbury" with Joan Acocella, a staff writer for the New Yorker.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Reception 6:30 p.m.
Program 7 p.m.
RSVP required: conservators@nypl.org

Hosted by the Conservators program. This event is open to all Conservators, and is also open to Young Lion Conservators and above.  For more information about the Conservators or Young Lions programs or to join, please contact Karen Seo at 212.621.0293.

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