England

Introduction

It was a typical day in high school when seventeen-year-old me reluctantly sat down in English Literature class. The teacher remained at the front of the room with a silent, looming presence.  The bell rang, the chatter dissipated, then he spoke in the grandest of airs:     

“Whan Zephirus eek with his swete breeth

Inspired hath in every holt and heeth

The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne

Hath in the Ram his halfe cours y-ronne,

And smale foweles maken melodye,

That slepen al the nyght with open ye,

So priketh hem Natúre in hir corages,

Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages.”

I didn’t admit it (lest lose my cool image), but I was captivated. He read aloud the introduction of The Canterbury Tales written in an early version of our own language, spoken 600 years ago. (Click here to hear it yourself.) I had so many questions. Why did it sound so strange, yet familiar? Where were the people going, and why? 

As the weeks passed in that class, I was introduced to authors like Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dickens, and Wells. I imagined not only their stories, but their places and times. Their words started a life-long exploration of all things British. I learned to truly appreciate their cultural influence on my life, and eventually the entire world.  

After many years behind books, I get to pursue the last line that has always called to me. “Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages.” Over the next 18 days, I will finally join the pilgrims on their path of royal discovery. Merry England awaits!

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