TROILUS AND CRISEYDE: A New Edition of 'The Book of Troilus'.

First edition, first printing. Original black cloth lettered and ruled in gilt to the spine, in the dustwrapper illustrated by Charles Keeping. A near fine copy, the binding square and firm, the contents clean, except for a small patch of tape residue where the previous owner had affixed a paper bookplate to the front endpaper (the now unaffixed plate is loosely laid in). A little softening to the lower spine tip. Complete with the lightly shelf-worn dustwrapper which is a touch rubbed to extremities, with a vertical crease to the centre of the front panel. A small portion of the gilt lettering on the spine has worn away. Not priced or clipped. Altogether, a very presentable copy. Scarce in cloth and with the dustwrapper.

Although less famous than 'The Canterbury Tales', 'Troilus and Criseyde' is considered by many to be Chaucer's greatest, and most perfect, work. A product of the author's visits to Italy and interest in Italian poetry – Dante and Petrarch are quoted – the poem is based on Boccaccio's early courtly work 'Il Filostrato', itself based on the twelfth-century 'Roman de Troie', by 12th-century French poet Benoît de Sainte-Maure, which tells the story of Troilus (son of Priam) and his love for Criseyde. Chaucer's version of the story at once translates, elaborates and transcends its sources. This edition prints Chaucer's poem and the Italian text of Boccaccio's poem in parallel, as well as a full critical commentary and an extensive introduction to the text and its sources. Freshly edited from all the surviving medieval manuscripts, this remains the standard edition of the work.

Stock code: 24635

£50

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