It’s a case of being almost too enjoyable to read without drawing some guilt. This is Chaucer, yet in a boldly modern translation that explores medieval psychology and customs in a smooth way while delivering a crackling good story. If only it felt less easy going down.
Nevill Coghill’s translation leans into the modern idiom, recasting the 14th century narrative poem with some 20th century expressions like “Nuts” and “that makes them tick.” At the same time, the poem’s rhythms and expressive discourse are recognizably direct from Chaucer, here coming into full form as the premier English writer of his time.
The bones of the poem remain: In ancient Troy a hero named Troilus and a widow maiden named Criseyde fall in love while their city is besieged by angry Greeks. After a period of pursuit and apparent despair by Troilus, the two achieve a blissfully erotic union only to find their romance becoming another victim of war.
