An Introduction to Geoffrey Chaucer (New Perspectives on Medieval Literature: Authors and Traditions)

“Offers a welcome vade mecum to the Chaucer reader, whether a student or teacher. Impressively interweaving a lifetime of teaching Chaucer with a deep knowledge of his texts, Pugh compresses into one elegantly written, slim handbook the essential Chaucer. A college course in a book! And not a dull moment in it.”—Jane Chance, author of The Literary Subversions of Medieval Women

“Offers clear synopses of the poet’s entire corpus, an engaging description of Chaucer’s life and times, a trenchant analysis of his sources, an engaging assessment of his relation to contemporary poets, and a provocative consideration of his subsequent influence upon English literature, including our own (post-) modern pop-culture. Pugh is particularly insightful regarding matters of genre and gender. His introduction to Chaucer serves as both a tight, bright manual for new students of Middle English as well as an excellent review text for all confirmed lovers of Chaucer.”—William A. Quinn, author of Chaucer’s Rehersynges

“Focusing on genre theory and contemporary cultural connections, Pugh has produced a fresh and stimulating introduction to Chaucer’s oeuvre.”—Kathleen Forni, author of The Chaucerian Apocrypha

“Always engaging and lucid, An Introduction to Geoffrey Chaucer will help even beginners understand and appreciate the poet’s writing.”—David Raybin, coeditor of Chaucer: Contemporary Approaches

Geoffrey Chaucer is widely considered the father of English literature. This introduction begins with a review of his life and the cultural milieu of fourteenth-century England and then expands into analyses of such major works as The Parliament of Fowls, Troilus and Criseyde, and, of course, the Canterbury Tales, examining them alongside a selection of lesser-known verses.

Tison Pugh, professor of English at the University of Central Florida, is the author of several books, including Queering Medieval Genres.