In 57 he became a public servant to countess elizabeth of ulster and continued in that capacity with the british court. Geoffrey chaucer led a busy official life, as an esquire of the royal court, as the comptroller of the customs for the port of london, as a participant in important diplomatic missions, and in a variety of other official duties. Geoffrey chaucer, the outstanding english poet before shakespeare. The exact date and place of geoffrey chaucers birth are not. Chaucers life and his poetry were embedded in and determined by a world of international trade, manuscript exchange, multilingual creativity, and the movement of things.
Start your 48hour free trial to unlock this the life of geoffrey chaucer study guide and get instant access to the following summary. Geoffrey chaucer biography life, death, wife, school. The canterbury tales is a collection of stories written in middle english by geoffrey chaucer in the 14th century two of them in prose, the rest in verse. Geoffrey chaucer books list of books by author geoffrey. He was the first writer buried in poets corner of westminster abbey. This by chaucer, william godwin is available at bauman rare books. His numerous publications include john lydgate 1970, old english and middle english poetry 1977, the canterbury tales. See all books authored by geoffrey chaucer, including tales of caunterbury, and chanticleer and the fox, and more on.
Chaucer was sent abroad on diplomatic missions in 70 and again in 7273. Poet geoffrey chaucer was born circa 40 in london, england. He has been called the father of english literature, or, alternatively, the father of english poetry. This important new critical biography traces in careful. It is a collection of 24 stories told by a group of 30 pilgrims who travel from southwark to canterbury to visit the shrine of thomas beckett. Geoffrey chaucer was born between 40 and 45, probably in london. Although best known for his book the canterbury tales, english poet geoffrey chaucer wrote many poems in his lifetime. Life of geoffrey chaucer chaucer bauman rare books. This important new critical biography traces in carefully considered detail what is known of geoffrey chaucers personal life while exploring the fascinating. Written at the end of his life, the canterbury tales is geoffrey chaucer s bestknown work. The greatest english poet of the middle ages, he is best known for the canterbury tales. The first of the chaucer life records appears in 57, in the household.
Including memoirs of his near friend and kinsman, john of gaunt, duke of lancaster. His the canterbury tales ranks as one of the greatest poetic works in english. Although very little is definitely known about the details of his life, chaucer was probably born shortly after 40. Geoffrey chaucer occupies a unique position in the middle ages. The theme of his poem, the book of the duchess, which was written for intellectual and sophisticated people, was a fitting memorial to one of the highestranking ladies of the english royal household. He was born a commoner, but through his intellect and astute judgments of human character, he moved freely among the aristocracy. For a brief chronology of chaucer s life and times, click here. Geoffrey chaucer biography life, death, wife, school, young, book. Rife with insights into both the poets life and his work, this superb book can introduce undergraduates to chaucer and yet also provide much for seasoned critics and scholars to ponder and debate. Beyond the canterbury tales, geoffrey chaucers life in.