Geoffrey Chaucer (c1345-1400) has been called "the father of English poetry. With his knowledge of Latin, French and Italian literature, he transformed the world of literature. Chaucer's greatest work was his "Canterbury Tales," a collection of stories told by pilgrims on their way to Canterbury. Read more about the life and works of Geoffrey Chaucer.
1. The Life of Geoffrey Chaucer: A Critical Biography
by Derek Pearsall. Blackwell. From the publishing: "This important new critical biography traces in carefully considered detail what is known of Geoffrey Chaucer's personal life while exploring the fascinating relationship between the man of affairs, who made so many 'improvisations and accommodations' to ensure his own survival, and the poet. A major reexamination of England's greatest narrative poet, it is supplemented with reproductions of Chaucer portraits and other illustrations."
2. The Oxford Companion to Chaucer
by Douglas Gray (Editor). Oxford University Press. From the publisher: "With over 2,000 entries from an international team of scholars, this new Oxford Companion provides a wealth of clear, up-to-date assessments on all aspects of Chaucer... Complete with a chronology, a note to readers, illustrations, and extensive cross-referencing, this is a fascinating, practical guide to readers of Chaucer at every level."3. Chaucer A to Z: The Essential Reference to His Life and Work
by Rosalyn Rossignol. Facts on File, Incorporated. From the publisher: "'Chaucer A to Z' is an ideal companion for readers who wish to experience fully the fascinating and entertaining achievements of the father of English Poetry. Written with grace and clarity, this detailed encyclopedic guide is an efficient and comprehensive reference to: Chaucer's language (Middle English), Chaucer's literary influences, literary forms of the period, contemporary historical events..."4. Chaucer: An Oxford Guide
by Steve Ellis. Oxford University Press. From the publisher: "The book devotes an entire section to Chaucer's 'afterlife,' which considers his reputation in later periods, his influence on later writers, and his presence in modern and contemporary culture. Guides to further reading for each chapter and a chronology are also included."5. Chaucer: His Life, His Works, His World
by Donald R. Howard. Ballantine Books. From the publisher: "Revered for centuries as the father of English poetry, Geoffrey Chaucer was also a central man of his age--a courtier, soldier, diplomat, public official, a man of action, and a man of the world. In this award-winning biography, Donald R. Howard recreates the public, private, and poetic life of this extraordinary man."6. A Companion to Chaucer
by Peter Brown. Blackwell Publishing. From the publisher: "Designed as both a contribution to original research and as a stimulating and accessible text, this volume is a helpful, reliable, responsive and adaptable resource for students of Chaucer at all levels."7. The Complete Critical Guide to Geoffrey Chaucer
by Gillian Rudd. Routledge. From the publisher: "Surveys of English literature inevitably begin with Chaucer, and it is difficult to imagine a literature degree which does not require some knowledge of his work. Chaucer's status at the heart of the canon is in fact one of the reasons students find it difficult to study his work: so much has been written on Chaucer, but where should they start?"8. Chaucer's England
by Diana Childress. Shoe String Press. From the publisher: "To give a sense of the mindset of Chaucer's characters and original audience, Diana Childress explains science, medicine, and education -- what people learned in school, how they treated illness, what they saw when they looked up at the night sky... Childress quotes liberally from The Canterbury Tales to show history at work in those living tales for all readers regardless of age."9. Chaucer and the Jews
by Sheila Delany (Editor). Taylor & Francis. From the publisher: "Chaucer's work is the main focus of the volume, and other late medieval texts offer further avenues of investigation. Two essays on current pedagogy conclude the volume, bringing its subject into the range of immediate concerns of teachers today."10. Chaucer and his World
by Derek S. Brewer. Boydell & Brewer. From the publisher: "Derek Brewer's biography offers what cultural anthropologists may call a 'thick description' of his life and times, reflecting first the poetry, but drawing on historical documents and critical insights to give a full and rounded picture of a distant but still relevant age and a fascinating poet."