For the shortest tale, we sure had a lot to say about it! After introducing Roger (aka Hogge) of Ware and discussing “The Cook’s Tale” the first episode in this mini-series, we’re keen to share with you even more about the Cook. More than you would ever care to know! We start with Alice bringing her cousin-in-law on to discuss her career as a line cook in Los Angeles for a number of knee-slapping, riproaring, and sometimes scary stories from the kitchen. After, the hosts discuss additions to the Cook’s Tale as found in Bodley MS 686 as well as the Tale of Gamelyn. For those unfamiliar, its a tale post-Chaucer’s death attributed to the Cook in some manuscripts and features a character from the extended Robin Hood universe!

Sources, Show Notes & Further Reading

• Alice and her cousin have the same first name
• Bowers, John M., Consortium for the Teaching of the Middle Ages., and University of Rochester. The Canterbury Tales : Fifteenth-Century Continuations and Additions. Edited by John M. Bowers. Medieval Institute Publications, 1992.
• Knight, Stephen, Thomas H. Ohlgren, and Thomas E. Kelly. Robin Hood and Other Outlaw Tales. Published for TEAMS in association with the University of Rochester by Medieval Institute Publications, Western Michigan University, 1997.