TY - BOOK AU - Ward,Adolphus William,Sir TI - Chaucer T2 - English Men of Letters AV - PR PY - 2003/// CY - Salt Lake City, UT PB - Project Gutenberg KW - Chaucer, Geoffrey, -1400 KW - Poets, English -- Middle English, 1100-1500 -- Biography N1 - Release date is 2003-01-01; Produced by Barb Grow and Sue Asscher. HTML version by Al Haines; Original publication data not identified N2 - "Chaucer" by Sir Adolphus William Ward is a biographical essay written in the late 19th century. The work delves into the life and times of Geoffrey Chaucer, one of the most significant figures in English literature, examining the context in which he lived and created his poetry. The essay offers insights into Chaucer's character, his notable works, and the historical circumstances that influenced his writing. The opening of the essay presents an exploration of Chaucer's historical context, touching on the uncertainties surrounding the details of his life, such as his birth date and personal experiences. It underscores the challenges faced by scholars in piecing together a coherent biography due to the incomplete nature of the available records. Along with discussing the societal issues of Chaucer's time, such as the impacts of the plague and the evolving class structures in England, the introduction sets the stage for a thorough examination of the connections between Chaucer's works and the tumultuous period in which he lived, marking him as a central figure reflecting the complexities of 14th-century English society. (This is an automatically generated summary.) UR - https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3624 ER -