The Author

Geoffrey Chaucer, "father of English literature", born 1342 or 1343 in London, as a son of a London vintner. Well educated, he started a career in the English court as courtier, diplomat, and civil servant. For his literary use of Middle English he was called by a contemporary "the firste fyndere of our fair langage". His "The Canterbury Tales" is considered as one of the greatest poetic works in English. Chaucer died of unknown causes on 25 October 1400 and was buried in Westminster Abbey in London.

Portrait of Chaucer (London, British Museum, Ms. Harl. 4866, 1412)

Major Works

The Book of the Duchess (1369/70)    >>>

Poetry

An ABC (c. 1370)    >>>

A complaint to his lady (c. 1370)    >>>

Balade to Rosemounde (c. 1370)    >>>

Chaucers wordes unto Adam [Pinkhurst], his owne scriveyn    >>>

The Romaunt of the Rose (Translation, 1369/70)    >>>

The House of Fame (1375 - 1380)    >>>

Anelida and Arcite (c. 1378)    >>>

Parlement of Foules (c. 1382)    >>>

Boece (Translation, 1382 - 1385)    >>>

Troilus and Criseyde (c. 1385)    >>>

The Legend of Good Women (c. 1386)    >>>

The Canterbury Tales (1387 - 1400)

A Treatise on the Astrolabe (1391)    >>>

Appendix

William Blake, The Canterbury Pilgrims (Fresco and engraving, 1809/10)

Geoffrey Chaucer (Wikipedia)

The Hengwrt Chaucer (the oldest manuscript copy, ca. 1395)

The Ellesmere Chaucer (decorated manuscript, 1400-1410)

Chaucers Werke (German Translation)

Sources/Colophon