Geoffrey Chaucer

Protrait of Chaucer in Thomas Hoccleve's Regiment of Princes (1412).

Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343–25 October 1400) was an English writer, poet, and philosopher. He is most famous for writing Canterbury Tales, his estate satire about a group of pilgrims traveling from London to Canterbury and telling tales to pass the time.

Early life

Chaucer was probably born in London. His father, John, and grandfather were prosperous wine merchants in London. The name "Chaucer" is French and means shoemaker. However, not many details are known of his early life and education.

By 1357, Chaucer was a page to Elizabeth, Countess of Ulster, wife of Lionel, 1st Duke of Clarence. In 1360, he was captured by the French near Reims during a battle in the Hundred Years' War. He was then ransomed and released. King Edward III gave £16 towards his release. Chaucer married Phillipa (de) Roet. She was a lady-in-waiting to the queen and had close family connections to John of Gaunt. He had four children: Elizabeth, Thomas, Agnes and Lewis.

The king's squire

Chaucer may have studied law in the Inner Temple. He joined the Royal court and travelled around Europe on business for the king. He became one of the king's esquires. One of his first known poems was written in 1369. It was called The Book of The Duchess, and was written after the death of John of Gaunt's wife, Blanche. In 1374, he became Comptroller (in charge of the money) of the Customs for the Port of London. He did this job for 12 years. It was a well paid job and Chaucer was quite rich.

When Richard II became king, Chaucer continued to work in Customs. He was also sent to Europe on several more diplomatic jobs for the king.

An image of Geoffrey Chaucer

Country life

Chaucer moved to Kent in 1385 where he had a new position as Justice of the Peace. He was also elected as one of two knights of the shire to be a member of parliament. At the end of the year he lost his customs jobs. His wife, Phillipa, died in 1387. But on 12 July 1389, he was made the Clerk of the Kings Works, looking after repairs to the royal palaces. He was given other small positions, including looking after the river banks of the Thames, and as a deputy forester in the Royal Forest. Over the next few years, Chaucer became poorer and often was given small payments and pensions from the king.

Death

He died at St. Mary's Chapel in Sevenoaks on 25 October 1400. Chaucer is buried in Westminster Abbey, in what is now called the Poets' Corner.

His writings

1721 edition of "The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer"

Chaucer wrote in the London dialect of Middle English. He did most of his writing between 1369 and c. 1394. He is most famous for one his final works, a collection of stories in verse called the Canterbury Tales. His other major work is his Trojan epic, Troilus and Criseyde. His other writings include The Book of the Duchess, The House of Fame, Anelida and Arcite, The Parliament of Fowls, and the Legend of Good Women, as well as many short poems. Though much of his work includes some adaptation and translation, Chaucer's direct translations are his Boece, a translation of the Consolation of Philosophy, and his partial translation of the Romaunt of the Rose. He also wrote A Treatise on the Astrolabe, an instruction manual on the astronomical instrument of the same name dedicated to his son.

Chaucer could read Latin, French, and Italian, and he may have written in those languages himself (though we have no evidence of this), but because he wrote primarily in English, he was esteemed by his contemporaries and near-contemporaries as one of great English poets. He is still sometimes referred to as "the father of English poetry".