Geoffrey chaucer geoffrey chaucer diplomat and civil servant. As a squire in the court of elizabeth, countess of ulster, the wife of lionel, earl of ulster later duke of clarence, chaucer would have. Although best known for his book the canterbury tales, english poet geoffrey chaucer wrote many poems in his lifetime. Geoffrey chaucer was born in london sometime between 40 and 44 to the academy of american poets is the largest membershipbased nonprofit organization fostering an appreciation for contemporary poetry and supporting american poets. Chaucer grew up in close contact with the royal family. Chaucer was also famous as an author, philosopher, alchemist and astronomer. Geoffrey chaucer biography life, death, wife, school, young, book. Geoffrey chaucer, the outstanding english poet before shakespeare. He was the first writer to be buried in what has since come to be called poets. His the canterbury tales ranks as one of the greatest poetic works in english.
Geoffrey chaucer diplomat and civil servant britannica. Chaucer was descended from two generations of wealthy vintners who had everything but a title and in 57 chaucer began pursuing a position at court. Geoffrey chaucer was born in london sometime between 40 and 44 to john chaucer and agnes copton. It was during these years that chaucer began working on his most famous text, the canterbury tales.
During the decade of the 70s, chaucer was at various times on diplomatic missions in flanders, france, and italy. Poet geoffrey chaucer was born circa 40 in london, england. Called the father of english poetry, geoffrey chaucer is ranked as one of the greatest poets of the late middle ages c. John chaucer was an affluent wine merchant and deputy to the kings butler.
Chaucers first major work was the book of the duchess, an elegy for the first wife of his patron john of gaunt. In 57 he became a public servant to countess elizabeth of ulster and continued in. Geoffrey chaucer biography facts, childhood, family life. Geoffrey chaucer quotes author of the canterbury tales. Geoffrey chaucer, hailed as the father of english literature, was the greatest english poet of the middle ages. Widely considered the greatest english poet of the middle ages, he is best known for the canterbury tales. In 57 he became a public servant to countess elizabeth of ulster and continued in that capacity with the british court throughout. He was also the first poet to be buried in poets corner of westminster abbey. Tales of caunterbury is a collection of 24 stories that runs to over 17,000 lines written in middle english by geoffrey chaucer between 87 and 1400. He has been called the father of english literature, or, alternatively, the father of english poetry. Through his fathers connections, geoffrey held several positions early in his life, serving as a noblewomans page, a courtier, a diplomat, a civil servant, and a.
Geoffrey chaucer was born between 40 and 45, probably in london. Geoffrey chaucer has to go down as one of britains finest writers. We do not know any details of his early life and education. Geoffrey chaucer immortalised medieval england in the canterbury tales the stories of various people gravitating to canterbury cathedral at the end of a pilgrimage. In 86, chaucer became controller of customs and justice of peace and, in 89, clerk of the kings work. He is the author of such works as the parlement of foules, troilus and criseyde, and the canterbury tales. Through his fathers connections, geoffrey held several positions early in his life. Probably his first italian journey december 72 to may 73 was for negotiations with the genoese concerning an english port for their commerce, and with the florentines concerning loans for edward iii. Humorous and profound, his writings show him to be an acute observer of his time with a deft command of many literary genres. In 86 geoffrey chaucer endured the worst year of his life, but he also made his best decision, or at least the.