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Article: Rory McTurk, Chaucer and the Norse and Celtic Worlds.(Book review)
- Article from:
- Medium Aevum
- Article date:
- September 22, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2007 Society for the Study of Mediaeval Languages and Literature. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Rory McTurk, Chaucer and the Norse and Celtic Worlds (Aldershot and Burlington, Vt: Ashgate, 2005). x + 218 pp. ISBN 0-7546-0391-1. 45.00. [pounds sterling].
This thought-provoking book presents itself as breaking with current Chaucer studies by looking 'northwestward' rather than 'southwards' for sources and analogues to his work (p. 188)--to the Norse and Celtic fringes of the medieval world. From the Celtic point of view, Rory McTurk builds on the once-popular theory that Chaucer spent time in Ireland during the early years of his career. On the Norse side, he is on relatively untouched ground, despite the fact that much Old Norse literature is contemporary ...