At the end of The Canterbury Tales stands Chaucer’s curious retraction of most of his best work. He asserts that anything that displeases should be imputed to his want of ability and not to his will. He would have very gladly written better if he had the power. Chaucer then lists all the books that he revokes, which includes all his best works, and asks for everyone to pray for him “that Christ have mercy on me and forgive me for my sins.”
