Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer (c.1340-1400) is without doubt the best known of Medieval English poets. He was born in London, the son of a vintner. Chaucer entered royal service in 1357 and spent much of his time employed on the kings business abroard, and during the course of his travels became familiar with French and Italian literature, which heavily influenced his later works.
Chaucer became the King's Controller of Customs in 1374 a post he held until 1386, and Clerk of the King's Works from 1389 to 1391. His early work was influenced by the French models including a translation of The romaunt of the rose.
Later he was inspired by italian models, as in The house of fame, The parliament of fowls, and Troilus and Criseyde. This culminated finally in his his best-known work, the great unfinished cycle of 23 Canterbury Tales (begun c.1387), related by members of a group of pilgrims on their way to Becket's shrine at Canterbury.
In other prose he translated Boethius's Consolations of Chilosophy and wrote The parson's tale. Whilst visiting Genoa and Florence during 1372-1373 he may have met Boccaccio, and probably Petrarch in 1374 He received a pension from Henry IV in 1399.
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Article added: 2006-10-17 @ 1:50 pm
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