Project Description / Intro / Chaucer

Chaucer, Geoffrey (1342/43-1400)
Geoffrey Chaucer was the outstanding English poet before Shakespeare and "the first finder of our language." His The Canterbury Tales ranks as one of the greatest poetic works in English. He also contributed importantly in the second half of the 14th century to the management of public affairs as courtier, diplomat, and civil servant.
Select Texts:

• The lyf so short the craft so lo[n]ge to lerne, 1477.
• Thou fiers god of armes, mars the rede, 1477.
• The book of fame, 1483.
• Canterbury tales, 1483.
• Troilus and Criseyde, 1483.
• The workes of Geffray Chaucer newly printed, with dyuers workes whiche were neuer in print before: as in the table more paynly dothe appere. Cum priuilegio, 1532.