Geoffrey Chaucer - (Medieval Lives) by Mary Flannery (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A new critical biography of medieval England's most famous poet.

For over six centuries, Chaucer has epitomized poetic greatness, though more recent treatments of The Canterbury Tales' lively and often risqué style have made his name more synonymous with bawdy humor. But beyond his poetic achievements, Chaucer assumed various roles including those of royal attendant, soldier, customs official, justice of the peace, and more. In this book, Mary Flannery chronicles Chaucer's life during one of the most turbulent periods of English history, illuminating how he came to be known not only as the father of English poetry but also as England's "merry bard."

Review Quotes

"A distinctive, appealing contribution to the effort to supply contexts and guideposts for evaluating the nature and significance of Chaucer's literary legacy at a moment in history when that legacy is no longer a simple given . . . What this book offers that other Chaucer ancillary materials do not, therefore, is an informative investigation of the feature of Chaucer's writing that is perhaps the very most
likely to encourage students to opt into a curricular pathway that includes his work."-- "Modern Philology"

"British biographers have tended to play up Chaucer's noble connections - and he was very well-connected - while Americans like to see the author of The Canterbury Tales as a commoner held down by English society. In Geoffrey Chaucer: Unveiling the Merry Bard, Flannery copes admirably with these confusions and cross-purposes to sketch Chaucer's life while examining modern academic fashions."

-- "Wall Street Journal"

"Flannery is courageous in taking on a biography of [an] icon of English literature, Geoffrey Chaucer . . . This attractive book, containing many medieval illustrations, makes for an ideal introduction for both the general reader and the student approaching the work of the writer who first gave the English their own literary language."-- "Morning Star"

"Scholarly and readable, a crisp and concise addition to the long line of Chaucer biographies . . . Flannery's book is a brisk, elegant work that will serve as a great introduction for students and general readers alike.-- "Times Literary Supplement"

"A revealing take on the much-studied poet."-- "Publishers Weekly"

"The paradox of reading Chaucer is that we feel we know the poet through his works; but we are still uncovering new things about his life. In this lively and engaging study, Mary Flannery guides us through the complex worlds of fourteenth-century court life, Chaucer's poetry, and its rich reception history, while also addressing recent biographical discoveries. This beautifully illustrated book is an excellent and up-to-date introduction to Chaucer and late medieval culture, focusing on the history and significance of Chaucer's reputation as a poet of mirth and merriment."--Stephanie Trigg, University of Melbourne

"A lively gallop through Chaucer's life and afterlife, enhanced by beautiful illustrations and plentiful textual quotation. Mary Flannery focuses on Chaucer as entertainer and humorist, exploring both what makes him fun, and why, in recent centuries, his geniality has become his defining trait."--Marion Turner, author of 'The Wife of Bath: A Biography'

About the Author

Mary Flannery is the Swiss National Science Foundation Eccellenza Professorial Fellow at the University of Bern. A regular contributor to the Times Literary Supplement, her publications include Practising Shame: Female Honour in Later Medieval England.