Geoffrey Chaucer: Unveiling the Merry Bard

(Hardback)

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This is a new account of the life and accomplishments of medieval England's most famous poet, Geoffrey Chaucer. For over six centuries, Chaucer has epitomised poetic greatness, though in more recent years the lively and often risque style of his best-known work, The Canterbury Tales, has made his name more synonymous with bawdy humour. Nevertheless, beyond his poetic achievements, Chaucer assumed various roles, including those of royal attendant, soldier, customs official and justice of the peace. Mary Flannery chronicles Chaucer's journey during one of the most turbulent periods of English history, illuminating how he came to be known as not only the 'Father of English Poetry', but England's 'merry bard'.

Reviews

"The paradox of reading Chaucer is that we feel we know the poet through his works; but we are still uncovering new things about his life. In this lively and engaging study, Mary Flannery guides us through the complex worlds of fourteenth-century court life, Chaucer's poetry, and its rich reception history, while also addressing recent biographical discoveries. This beautifully illustrated book is an excellent and up-to-date introduction to Chaucer and late medieval culture, focusing on the history and significance of Chaucer's reputation as a poet of mirth and merriment."--Stephanie Trigg, University of Melbourne
"A lively gallop through Chaucer's life and afterlife, enhanced by beautiful illustrations and plentiful textual quotation. Mary Flannery focuses on Chaucer as entertainer and humorist, exploring both what makes him fun, and why, in recent centuries, his geniality has become his defining trait."--Marion Turner, author of 'The Wife of Bath: A Biography'

Author Bio

Mary Flannery is the Swiss National Science Foundation Eccellenza Professorial Fellow at the University of Bern. A regular contributor to the Times Literary Supplement, her publications include Practising Shame: Female Honour in Later Medieval England.