This anthology was published in 1969 and so the section entitled modern views does not contain the most recent criticism. However it is still a valuable source of knowledge. The contemporaneous criticism and The developing debate sections provide a history of Chaucer crticism, which is fascinating. Ctiticism of the 18th and 19th century's tended to go for broad sweep approach rather than the detailed analysis of modern times, however the ideas and conclusions were no less insightful and have provided modern criticism with a base from which to start. John Dryden's "from the Preface to the fables" (1700) and William Hazlit's "On Chaucer and Spenser; I found particularly enlightening. The modern views contains extracts fom some famous literary critics ie; Charles Muscatine, W K Wimsatt, A C Spearing etc, giving the reader a chance to dip into the mind set of theses critics.

If your interested in Chaucer and see this book in a second hand shop you will not be wasting your time reading it. ( )