This second edition continues the excellent tradition of the volume, offering students a comprehensive introduction to Chaucer's work and life.

1. The social and literary scene in England Paul Strohm; 2. Chaucer's French inheritance Ardis Butterfield; 3. Chaucer's Italian inheritance David Wallace; 4. Old books brought to life in dreams: the Book of the Duchess, the House of Fame, the Parliament of Fowls Piero Boitani; 5. Telling the story in Troilus and Criseyde Mark Lambert; 6. Chance and destiny in Troilus and Criseyde and The Knight's Tale Jill Mann; 7. The Legend of Good Women Julia Boffey and A. S. G. Edwards; 8. The Canterbury Tales: personal drama or experiments in poetic variety? C. David Benson; 9. The Canterbury Tales I: Romance J. A. Burrow; 10. The Canterbury Tales II: Comedy Derek Pearsall; 11. The Canterbury Tales III: Pathos Robert Worth Frank, Jr.; 12. The Canterbury Tales IV: Exemplum and fable A. C. Spearing; 13. Literary structures in Chaucer Barry A. Windeatt; 14. Chaucer's style Christopher Cannon; 15. Chaucer's presence and absence, 1400-1542 James Simpson; 16. New approaches to Chaucer Carolyn Dinshaw; 17. Further reading: a guide to Chaucer studies Joerg Fichte.