Dream literature is regarded as one of the most important genres in medieval literature and is widely studied. This text provides a succinct and clear introduction to the five central poems that comprise Chaucer's Dream Poetry, and shows his role as a leading adapter of European Literary tradition into English Literature.
The poems discussed are The Book of the Duchess, The Legend of Good Women, The Legend of Dido, The Parliament of Fowls and The House of Fame. Each have an introduction setting the poem within the context of Dream Poetry and Chaucer's own work. Appendices of proper names, pronunciation and criticism are also given.
This volume is unique is presenting the poems together in an editorial and critical framework. The quality of annotation is unrivalled and will make this text a major addition to the literature suitable for those interested in the genre, literary, or more general history of the period.
'Chaucers Dream Poetry' is the first volume to provide texts of all Chaucer's four dream poems together with a full critical guide to the genre of dream poetry, and introductions to the individual poems. The texts have been newly edited by Helen Phillips and Nick Havely, who have previously produced major scholarly editions of two of the poems. This collection includes the Book of the Duchess, the House of Fame, the Parliament of Fowls, and the Prologue to the Legend of Good Women, and the Legend of Dido from the Legend of Good Women. The texts provide an indispensable guide to the poetic agenda that informs his other works, such as Troilus and Criseyde and the Canterbury Tales, and they are also profound explorations of subjects central to Chaucer's thought such as love and transience, the experience of suffering (especially of women), and the role of the modern vernacular poet in relation to cultural tradition.
