This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

ジョフリー・チョーサーが紡いだ「カンタベリー物語」は、英文学の夜明けを告げる比類なき傑作です。特にこのエルズミア写本版は、中世の息吹をそのままに伝える至宝と言えるでしょう。単なる説話集の枠を超え、騎士から農夫まで多様な階層の人々が織りなすポリフォニー（多声性）は、人間の尊厳と滑稽さ、そして抗いがたい生命力を鮮烈に描き出しています。 本作の神髄は、聖地への巡礼という宗教的枠組みの中で噴出する、生々しいまでの人間賛歌にあります。チョーサーは洗練された皮肉と深い慈愛をもって、社会の矛盾を鋭く突きながらも、物語ることそのものの根源的な喜びを謳い上げます。時を超えて響き渡るその普遍的なユーモアと洞察は、現代を生きる私たちの魂に消えない灯をともすに違いありません。