The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer Read by Martin Starkie and Prunella Scales. Movie length i.e. abridged. “When in April sweet showers fall…”
The Canterbury Tales: The twenty-four stories of The Canterbury Tales were written by Chaucer from 1387 to the year of his death in 1400 AD. These stories are told by various pilgrims who are traveling to Canterbury to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket. This audiobook contains 2 prologues and 5 stories. They include:
• The Prologue
• The Miller’s Tale
• The Nun’s Priest’s Tale
• The Wife of Bath’s prologue
• The Wife of Bath’s Tale
• The Merchant’s Tale
Geoffrey Chaucer: (c.1343 – 1400) was born in London, England. He grew up to be a man of many talents. Besides being a writer and poet, he also studied astronomy and law, was a civil servant, and member of parliament. During the 100 -Years war when England invaded France, Chaucer was captured and held for ransom by the French. The ransom was paid for by King Edward III.
Quote: All that’s written down has some truth to tell. Take the wheat and let the chaff lie still.

Martin Starkie (1922-2010) was born in Burnley, England. He received his college education and acting skills and Oxford University and London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art respectively. He appeared on various British TV movies and series during the 1950s including Sherlock Holmes (1951), BBC-Sunday Night Theater, among others. Later he wrote for the 7-episode Canterbury Tales which aired on the BBC, and cowrote the musical Canterbury Tales which won 4 Tony Awards. He also founded the annual Chaucer Festival and this Chaucer enthusiast narrated our audiobook. Enjoy!
Prunella Scales (1932 - ) was born in the village of Sutton Abinger, England. Beginning 1949, she received her theater training at The Old Vic* aka Royal Victoria Hall. Prunella Scales is best known for playing wife Sybil Fawlty alongside John Cleese in the madcap series, Fawlty Towers. She also performed in the movies Howard’s End and The Littlest Horse Thieves.

*From 2003-2015, the artistic director at The Old Vic was Kevin Spacey.