Description
By Mrs. H. R. Haweis. Illustrated with pictures and woodcuts by the author. Unlock the rich and colorful world of medieval England with this charming introduction to the works of Geoffrey Chaucer, specially created for younger readers and students of classic literature.
In Chaucer for Children: A Golden Key, writer and educator H. R. Haweis opens the door to Chaucer’s timeless poetry through engaging retellings, explanations, and selections designed to make the language and stories of the Middle Ages accessible to modern audiences. Long regarded as one of the finest introductions to Chaucer for young readers, this classic volume combines literary appreciation with lively storytelling and historical insight.
Readers are introduced to the pilgrims, knights, merchants, clerics, and travelers who populate The Canterbury Tales, while also gaining insight into the customs, humor, beliefs, and everyday life of fourteenth-century England. Haweis carefully guides readers through Chaucer’s language and poetic world, helping them appreciate both the beauty of the original verse and the enduring humanity of its characters and themes.
Filled with adventure, humor, romance, and moral reflection, the stories reveal why Chaucer remains one of the foundational figures of English literature. At the same time, the book serves as a gateway into the wider world of medieval culture, introducing readers to the atmosphere and imagination of the Middle Ages.
Written in a warm and accessible style, Chaucer for Children: A Golden Key has delighted and educated generations of readers since its original publication. More than a literary guide, it is an invitation to discover one of the great treasures of the English language.
This carefully restored reprint revives a beloved educational classic for modern audiences. Ideal for students, homeschool libraries, lovers of classic literature, and readers interested in medieval history and storytelling, it remains a timeless companion to the world of Geoffrey Chaucer.
About the author: Mary Eliza Haweis, née Joy (1848–1898), was the daughter of the painter Thomas Musgrave Joy, and an artist in her own right, who first won fame with her exhibition at the Royal Academy under her maiden name Miss M. E. Joy. Her literary career started after she married Hugh Reginald Haweis, and after illustrating his books, started writing her own using the name “Mrs. H. R. Haweis.” Chaucer for Children was her very first book, and catapulted her to instant fame. She followed this up with several other works centered around art, fashion, history, and literature, including The Art of Beauty (1878), The Art of Dress (1879), The Art of Decoration (1881), and The Art of Housekeeping (1889). From 1880 she wrote essays on artistic houses, first published in the magazine The Queen. Apart from her literary work, she is also remembered for her successful campaign to have museums opened on Sundays—revolutionary at the time, but now standard practice around the globe.
Included in this work are a description of Chaucer’s Pilgrims, and the following tales and poems:
Chaucer’s Prologue
The Knight’s Tale
The Friar’s Tale
The Clerk’s Tale
The Franklin’s Tale
The Pardoner’s Tale
Complaint of Chaucer to his Purse
Two Rondeaux
Virelai
Good Counsel of Chaucer.
