An impressive collection of early Chaucers at New College Library provides a happy opportunity to examine and compare these early editions side-by-side—to take a look at them from a reader’s (rather than a scholar’s, editor’s, or literary critic’s) point of view. With the actual books available to handle, put on a table in front of me, and leaf through at my leisure, my interest is in much more easily observable issues than editorial practices and principles: the collection of texts they contain, how these are presented in terms of layout, illustrations, or decoration, and what (if any) accompanying explanatory material helpful to the reader is added to the text. These are issues which actively shape the actual reading experience of Chaucer’s text in print, and as such are vocal witnesses to the changes in attitude towards reading (or studying) Chaucer over the centuries.

New College Library, Oxford, BT1.19.2, f. 1r [detail]

New College Library and Archives, Oxford