The Life and Times of Chaucer

ix, 328, x pp. A literary biography of the author of Canterbury Tales. The author, John Gardner, is also known for his reimagining of Beowulf from the perspective of the monster Grendel. "The pinnacle of Gardner's medieval scholarship: a fascinating re-creation of the world of one of history's greatest writers. In this exquisite biography, John Gardner brings to life Geoffrey Chaucer, illuminating his writings and their inspiration like never before. Through exhaustive research and expert storytelling, Gardner takes readers through Chaucer’s varied career — from writing The Canterbury Tales to performing diplomatic work at the Parliament — and creates a fully realized portrait of an author whose work would remake the English language forever."