The Editorial Assumptions in the Manly-Rickert Edition of 'The Canterbury Tales'

Author / Editor
Blake, N. F.

Title
The Editorial Assumptions in the Manly-Rickert Edition of 'The Canterbury Tales'

Published
English Studies 64 (1983): 385-400.

Description
On Manly-Rickert's faulty assumptions: prior circulation of individual tales among Chaucer's friends; two archetypes, O and O1; individual lines of textual transmission for separate tales; scribal use of several lost exemplars for some tales. It is more plausible that extant manuscripts are largely derived from Chaucer's original manuscript. Possibly two drafts were held by Chaucer when he died.

Chaucer Subjects
Manuscripts and Textual Studies.