The Life And Times Of Chaucer By John Gardner

1977 trade paperback

Vintage books, random house

Very good

Biography

The Life and Times of Chaucer by John Gardner is a 1977 book that imaginatively reconstructs the life of Geoffrey Chaucer, blending historical facts with literary analysis and conjecture, making it read like a novel while exploring his career as a poet, diplomat, and civil servant in medieval England. Gardner, a novelist and medieval literature professor, uses his literary skills to bring Chaucer's world to life, covering his rise in service to kings, his varied career, and his lasting impact on the English language. The book is known for its engaging storytelling, scholarly depth, and inclusion of illustrations and poetry excerpts