The Faerie Queene, Book 1 is absolutely magnificent. It stands alone within the entire poem as a national Epic in its own right, and every line is laced with rich symbolism and allegory. Spenser’s verse is remarkable, and despite its tendency to mimic Chaucer which can become tiresome, it remains mostly accessible to a modern reader. The story is intense, bloody, exciting, cathartic, and deeply reflective - though Book 1 is the only part of The Faerie Queene which features in my English degree syllabus, I am tempted to read the further books for my own enjoyment.