Chaucer 1340-1400: The Life and Times of the First English Poet

(Paperback)

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This first, and some would say greatest, poet of the English language stands before the gateway of the early modern age. He lived at a time when the elite languages of former conquerors, French and Latin, were both giving way to English - no longer just the vernacular of the common people, but increasingly the language of the court, the law, and of literature. Richard West weaves a fascinating picture of this extraordinary man, whose character has puzzled lovers of his comic masterpiece, "The Canterbury Tales". How did he remain so apparently cheerful and serene, through one of the cruellest eras of history As a child he survived the Black Death, later he fought in France during the Hundred Years War, served as a diplomat in Italy, and became an MP at the angry beginnings of the Protestant Reformation, the Peasants' Revolt and the overthrow of Richard II.

Reviews

'West has written a genuinely fascinating book, the best kind of popular history...' - Literary Review * 'What Richard West does, in this lively and entertaining volume... is to tell a series of stories about Chaucer, his age, and his works.... West provides examples of the text in both its original and modernised form, tempting his readers to enjoy the experience of meeting Chaucer face to face.' - BBC History Magazine

Author Bio

Richard West is a journalist and writer who contributes regularly to The Times Literary Supplement and the Spectator. He has written many books, including a much-admired biography of Daniel Defoe, and is married to the writer Mary Kenny.