Celebrating Chaucer in the New Year

It seems worthwhile to assemble my Chaucer possibilities for 2016. After all, that's the passion and purpose of my online connections.
     First that comes to mind is the talk I give on YouTube.

Chaucer: what is hidden in the Canterbury Tales by Dolores Cullen

It's quite popular. My grandson is the producer of the video; he graduated from the Loyola Marymount Film School.

      Also on YouTube is a radio interview: 

                    Chaucer: Dolores Cullen interviewed by Matthew Arnold

Matthew Arnold, the interviewer, is exceptional. He, no doubt, has read all of my Chaucer books and all the articles I've written! That's obvious from the content of his many questions.

     Then there is this blog:

http://chauceraintlikegospel.blogspot.com

 It gets hits from all over the world. Chaucer says a lot more than what is regularly taught in classes. It's time we question previous opinions. That's what they are opinions, some published 100 and more years ago. For instance, Chaucer has concealed a whole other world in just the Canterbury Tales. "Discovering" it could give new life to Chaucer--and to medieval literature, in general.

     Finally, if you have a problem finding my Chaucer books to purchase, may I direct  you to my website?

 

http://www.celebratechaucer.com

The three books are now online. They can be read--rather like using a Kindle. They can even be downloaded or printed out. And you can easily click to the YouTube and blog entries (all of the above) from the home page.

     I'm planning on making 2016 a great year for Chaucer.

[P.S. You can see the dolls I make on this blog. That's what I do in between my Chaucer thoughts.]

On the cyber trail

A comment I received a couple of days ago was a special treat. It had had quite a cyber trail before it reached me. Chaucer  ain't like Gospel! is linked to Facebook. What I received by email was a "friend" request for Facebook from a Mr. Mault, whom I knew not at all.

So for curiosity, if for nothing else, I queried, "Why would you want me as a friend? Who do you know that I know?" and "What's your opinion of Chaucer?"

Aha, Mr. Mault responded that he had seen my Chaucer chat on YouTube!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20MzPHFmgSA

He also expressed the intention of reading my books and Chaucer's. Therefore, recognizing Mr. Mault of Ohio as a man of noble spirit and good intentions, I accepted him as a Facebook "friend."

When he next contacts me, I'll be sure to direct him to my website

http://celebratechaucer.com/

which holds a wealth of Chaucer information and considerable news of current Chaucer events and publications as well as stuff to download. 

A link to my radio interview (Oct 21) will also be there soon. 

http://radiomaria.us/shieldoffaith/

With all the busyness of Thanksgiving and the Christmas season, the powers that be just haven't gotten around to it yet. 

Blessings of the Season to all of you!

 

What an attractive number!

Several years ago my grandson Andy and Judy Hernandez' son Chris--both young men with talent and know-how--made a video of a talk I gave about what Chaucer has hidden in the Canterbury Tales. Later Bill, my webmaster, put the video on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20MzPHFmgSA

Now, I know that some hits come from robots. Nevertheless, the number it has reached is just so attractive that I think it's time to rejoice. Yesterday it broke 1000. It's now at 1013 as I write this.

Rejoice with me!

A New Year

A new year. A new beginning. Happy 2013 to everyone. Life is always in a state of flux, so I'll set the stage by incorporating what has happened in my life with Chaucer since my initial posting.
     First, let's look at the name of this blog. Chaucer ain't like gospel  means  that whatever has been said, in the last 200 years or so of literary criticism regarding the poet and his works, is all subject to question.  After all, we are dealing with human opinions, not with religious inspiration. That shakes out the dust from Chaucer studies. It encourages us to explore new possibilities--but always with a solid foundation. We don't have to express our thoughts in academic jargon, but we must build fact upon fact.
     Why should you value my new opinions? Well, partly because I've enjoyed promoting Chaucer and researching and writing about Chaucer for 30 years. There were many exciting moments, surprising discoveries I'll tell you about. Sometimes a sudden insight was so amazing, I thought I'd burst!
     My intention here is to add a post once a week. In the meantime you can check out the website CelebrateChaucer.com for pictures of our festivities over the years, and see a variety of articles I've written--from spicy to serious to just plain astonishing. In addition, on YouTube you can see an uploaded presentation called Chaucer: what is hidden in the Canterbury Tales.
           http://youtu.be/20MzPHFmgSA
It is a taste of the engaging ideas that lie ahead.
     That's it for now. Until next time, Celebrate Chaucer!