Walking to Canterbury: A Modern Journey Through Chaucer's Medieval England

This investigation of modern and medieval England is done in a lively hands-on approach by the author in a unique way, as he walks the route of Chaucer's piligrims. A real pilgrimage route in the Middle Ages, the reader feels that he is there every step of the way. If you like adventure, heart, soul, humor and history, you'll love this journey.

I teach in L.A. and have had trouble exciting my teen students about Chaucer till this book appeared. It has a couple of chapters about the author hanging out with teens, even partying with them around a campfire on the Thames, where one kid quotes Chaucer in a rather slangish manner. Anyway, my students love these chapters and has enticed them to read more. If you teach, you'll find it a great tool in making Chaucer and history fun.

This is a beautifully written book, filled with insights, tenderness and a great love of life. What a wonderful way to learn about English history, a genre that is so often as dull as midnight.

Walking to Canterbury took me down a historical road I didn't know existed. I had avoided Chaucer in college, thinking that his tales were totally fiction. It turns out, however, that he based his stories on real pilgrims. Chaucer had lived in Kent, where Ellis' journey takes his readers. The book and adventure sparkle with interesting characters and Ellis has a way of making them leap off the pages. One jumped right into my lap and...well, that's another tale. If you like history, adventure, people and want to forget the routine of the modern world for a while, read this book.

Once again the master of the physical and the spiritual journey has taken again to the road. How lucky for us! Sit back, take in both journey's, and you will find pleasure, humility, and wisdom. The world is sorely in need of this adventurer. When you put WALKING TO CANTERBURY down you will most assuredly hope that Ellis hits the road again. Soon!