William Caxton

S3E24 - William Caxton

Published: May 15, 2025

Duration: 54:28

Whan that aprill with his shoures soote

The droghte of march hath perced to the roote,

And bathed every veyne in swich licour

Of which vertu engendred is the flour;


These lines, although difficult to understand, are from a key work in English literature. They have endured today, in part, thanks to a man called William Caxton, who chose a book called 'The Canterbury Tales' as the first book to be printed in England.


In this episode, Charlie Higson looks at the life and work of William Ca...