Geoffrey Chaucer

Biography

Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343–1400) was an English poet, author, and civil servant who is often called the Father of English Literature. His masterwork, The Canterbury Tales, is the most important work of literature in Middle English and one of the foundational texts of English-language culture. Chaucer served as a diplomat, customs official, and member of parliament, and his wide experience of society—from royalty to commoners—informs the extraordinary range of characters in his poetry. He is also known for Troilus and Criseyde, The Book of the Duchess, and numerous shorter poems. Chaucer was the first poet buried in what became Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey.