Edward Burne-Jones – illustratör

The edition of The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer published by the Kelmscott Press in 1896 combined the talents of William Morris, one of England's greatest typographers and printers, and those of artist Sir Edward Burne-Jones, who created the 87 full-page woodcut illustrations. For students of Chaucer, English literature, English printing history, and 19th-century British art, the Kelmscott Chaucer is a unique treasure. Originally published in a limited edition of fewer than 500 copies — hardly any of which surface on the rare book market — this masterpiece is now available to a new generation of collectors and bibliophiles.

A group of pilgrims assembles at the Tabard Inn in Southwark and sets out for the shrine of Thomas à Becket in Canterbury. Along the way they tell tales to one another, painting pictures of their varied lives.When The Canterbury Tales first appeared it was groundbreaking – showing characters speaking in the vernacular, giving readers for centuries to come an insight into medieval England. This annotated, illustrated edition collects the most enjoyable, witty and crude pieces into a unique collection, and is the perfect edition for those who have yet to meet The Canterbury Tales, as well as those who know and love it.

This major milestone in the history of English literature is presented in a sumptuous hardback edition with printed page edges, lavishly illustrated by William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones.The Canterbury Tales is an enduringly fascinating work - both an enjoyable romp through the lives of a cast of engaging characters and a window on the world of everyday life in 14th-century England. Its allegorical depths reward repeated reading. In this edition, the stories are presented in a modern English verse translation by Frank Ernest Hill which succeeds in retaining the charm of the original while ensuring the text is accessible to a general readership. This text is accompanied by lavish illustrations by Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris, originally produced for the Kelmscott Chaucer in 1896. ABOUT THE SERIES: Arcturus Epic Classics brings together stunning large-format hardback editions of classic works, presented with striking illustrated page edges and classic illustrations throughout.