The Canterbury Fails
David Coley and Matt Hussey
Reading marginal, minor, and absolutely unread Old and Middle English poetry, paired with a thematically appropriate cocktail.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 18, 2025 • 46min
The Fraternity of Drinkers: Initiation Rites with Quarts of English Ale
A gentle tail-rhymed parody about a brotherhood of drinkers that no one has every written about: a perfect Fail.
Nov 30, 2024 • 52min
Ælfric's Homily on the Nativity: Invisible Wolf and Thicc-Dranks
Ælfric gets all teacherly about Jesus's birth and Matt and David suck down 3000 calories in 5 minutes. It's great.
Nov 16, 2024 • 49min
On the Corruptions of the Times: Bad Poetry, Matt Weeps, and a Pencil Shaving Cocktail
The vaguest and most general milquetoast fifteenth-century poetry on how bad things are (they are bad people!) with a drink that makes Matt and David question their credibility.
Nov 1, 2024 • 51min
A Voice Crying Out and a Fortified City: Old English Prose Psalm 30
Alfred shouts out his sorrows while Matt and David (both the Biblical and the actual) knock back a Bob Dylan x vermouth fanfic love fest. With fire. And a monastic chaser.
Oct 19, 2024 • 46min
The Juggler and the Baron's Daughter: Dicey Magic Seduction and a Citrusy Gin Bomb
A Middle English ballad about a sketchy juggler with bad intent and a potent bittersweet and floral ringer.
Sep 27, 2024 • 45min
Old English Saint Pantaleon: Dumb Ways to Die
An inventive and violent life of a kid doctor with the citrusy and herbal Milk of a Lion.
Sep 14, 2024 • 53min
How the Plague Was Ceased at Rome: Shoddy Sticky Bun and Fungal Bourbon
Lydgate's anti-Plague miracle poem with pestiferous angels paired with a medieval medicine-infused citrus bomb.
May 30, 2024 • 1h 8min
Kalamazoo Fails II
A live and in-person episode recorded in Kalamazoo Michigan at the International Congress on Medieval Studies featuring Usha Vishnuvajjala, Marty Schichtman, Laurie Finke, S.C. Kaplan, Sarah Baechle, Erin Sweany, and Dana Oswald. Decapitated wolves! Penis pilgrimage! Terrible romance! Fun was had by all.
Apr 5, 2024 • 53min
Capture of the Five Boroughs: Political Lackeyism (or how to kiss Edmund's heroic ass)
A mediocre and short (thankfully) Old English encomium for Edmund that confuses Danes and Vikings paired with a rich and potent New York transplant cocktail. And David got one of those cherries he likes.
Mar 22, 2024 • 48min
Feast of Tottenham: Impossible Food in a Bad Parody
A barrage of nonsense luxury food items coupled with a surrealist filmic stiff drink.
