English language. At this point of hisjourney he explains that, at first, the Normanscouldnt speak English and the English werent able to speak Norman French. So,they started to use Latin to communicate and thats why songs and histories inLatin were produced during this period. These histories brought to light Englishand European mythology. We can find Greek gods in writings produced from thistime on and Burgess points out that, around this time, the myth of Arthur wasrevived and established for ever in English culture. Returning to the issue oflanguage, English prevailed but it came out from this cultural and linguisticclash full of changes, especially vocabulary borrowings from Norman French and,surprisingly, from Latin. And thats how we can see Old English becoming MiddleEnglish. Before introducing us Geoffrey Chaucer, Burgess mentions some writers whopave[d] the way for the first great English poet (p. 26). What seemsimportant to highlight is that Chaucers writings reflected the future, asBurgess explains, with its regular rhyme-patterns, color, wit and Frenchstanza, whilst those other writers from the fourteenth century addressed thepast, writing with head-rhyme about religious themes in a formless style. Burgessthen reveals some biographical data about Chaucer and explains that, althoughhaving become a well educated and cultivated man, he decided to write in theEast Midland dialect of English, the one that was actually spoken in London, facing somedifficulties because there wasnt an established literature to consult. So hehad to create English. In The Canterbury Tales,he uses language to draw real people and to describe a vivid portrait of life. TheEnglish he uses is quite modern when compared to the previous poets. The talesare told by different characters who illustrate, with their differentdiscourses and philosophies, the society of that period. They are in apilgrimage to Canterburyand they meet in the Tabard of Harry Bailey who offers a free soup to the onewho would tell the best tale. We dont know who the champion is becauseChaucer dies before finishing The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer also wrote Troilusand Criseyde and Burgess affirms that this was the first full length pieceof English literature (p. 34). English changed substantially after Chaucer andpronunciation changes made his works seem to lack rhythm. Because of thatChaucer was regarded as a crude author. Burgess mentions some Scottishwriters who maintained Chaucers style. Skelton, was a great Scottish writerfrom the 15th century who had a different and strange style for histime. He wrote short lines, with simple words and a loose rhyme-pattern. Adifferent kind of poetry mentioned by Burgess is the ballad, which wasa kind of oral, anonymous poem characteristic of the border between England and Scotland. The Oxford Book ofEnglish contains many ballads from the fifteenth century and even fromearlier times. Regarding prose, the author explains how a commercial concern made a mancontribute to the establishment of a standard dialect: William Caxton (1421-91)was responsible for the first pressed writings in England and he decided to print hiswritings in prose using the English he spoke. He was interested in sellingbooks, so he wanted to be understood for as many readers as possible. He alsoprinted Sir Thomas Mallorys Morte dArthur in1484, awork of