The Lives of the Miller's Tale: The Roots, Composition and Retellings of Chaucer's Bawdy Story

Explores how Chaucer transformed the colorless Middle Dutch tale that was his source into the lively and dramatic tale of raunchy Nicholas, sexy Alison, foolish John, and squeamish Absolon. Beidler draws attention to the ways Chaucer made his tale more dramatic through the use of dialogue, scene division, music, visual effects, and staging.