Articles I've Published

From the beginning of my Chaucer pursuits, I have found inspiration and guidance from Richard Altick's The Art of Literary Research. Altick says we must not hesitate to question "a speculation that has been dignified into a 'certainty'; …an assumption of critics or literary historians which has gone unchallenged so long that it now seems as impregnable as an old-fashioned Gospel truth."

Several of my published articles prompt re-thinking of just such long-held literary opinions. The latest, which is yet to be published, continues to present new and challenging ideas.

The Dark Side of Chaucer  questions the lack of usual evidence regarding a medieval author. Where are the facts about the end of Chaucer's life and his death? Were they suppresed?  By whom? If so, why? And what happened to his original manuscripts?  Click here for the complete article.

Chaucer's Host: What Have We Been Missing? examines the role of the Host in the
Canterbury Tales. The character who interacts with every pilgrim, who guides all the action, is completely overlooked by some literary scholars. The reason? The Host is NOT one of the pilgrims. His being a separate entity can be seen to have deep, far-reaching implications.  Click here for the complete article.

Chaucer's (Wicked and Filthy) Poetic License entertains as it informs. Pilgrim Chaucer's own offering--the Tale of Thopas--is often passed over in classes studying the Canterbury Tales. Ah, but what is the poet telling us--about himself?  Click here for the complete article.



Seeing Double-and Loving It introduces the double identities of the Canterbury travelers who are disguised as pilgrims.  Chaucer's words conceal a universe waiting to be explored.  Click here for the complete article.

Written in the Stars briefly illustrates how Chaucer uses the important stars in a zodiac sign to construct its pilgrim counterpart. For example, in Leo he positions a golden brooch under the Monk's chin to represent bright Regulus, called "The Lion's Heart." My blog contains this information, but gathering it together makes referencing easier. Just click here.

Thus Sayeth the Midwife from Bath does not actually derive from Chaucer. It is, however, a product of necessary research involved with my pursuit of facts about medical practices and physical conditions in Chaucer's lifetime. After delving into books used by medieval physicians, I wanted to share some of the astonishing--sometimes grim, sometimes hard to imagine--opinions.  Click here for the complete article.

Feel free to download part or all of any of the above articles