A Preface to Chaucer: Studies in Medieval Perspective

by Durant Waite Robertson

What were the medieval stylistic, aesthetic, and literary conventions that Chancer drew upon and knew that his audience would understand? In this rich study Mr. Robertson has included 118 illustrations-of medieval sculpture, cathedral interiors, illuminated manuscripts, paintings, ornamental devices and decorations-to show how these conventions affected the visual arts of Chaucer's time. Special attention is directed to fundamental differences between medieval and modern attitudes toward poetry, and to the significance of these differences for an approach to medieval art. By placing Chaucer fully in his own time, Mr. Robertson establishes new perspectives for understanding Chaucer’s poetry. His book is like a rich tapestry weaving together many threads.

Originally published in 1962.

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611 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1962

Reviews

[Hooper Bring]

In “Through the Vanishing Point”, McLuhan says this is: “concerned with how the world of space and time in the art of Chaucer is discontinuous and multileveled. For the modern scholar, the discovery of discontinuity creates dismay since it disrupts his ordinary procedures and classifications. Robertson, for example, declares that the principle of conventional philology are quite inadequate to the task of establishing an encounter with the medieval habits of multilevel exegesis.”