Chaucer's Official Life

Explore the life of a renowned poet through his public role and political context. This scholarly work examines Chaucer’s official life, charting how he interacted with kings, nobles, and the growing system of law and government in late medieval England. It weighs evidence about his financial dealings, offices, and alliances to paint a nuanced portrait of a writer operating within a turbulent court world.

Written as a careful study of public service and social networks, the book situates Chaucer within the machinery of 14th‑century governance. It discusses his links to figures on both sides of factional strife and what those connections reveal about his career, finances, and choices. The analysis also bridges literary and historical perspectives, offering context for his poetry by examining the era’s politics and institutions.

• How Chaucer navigated loyalty to the crown while maintaining ties to diverse political circles


• Discussion of offices, pensions, and financial arrangements that shaped his career


• Insights into the rise of the Justices of the Peace and their social circle


• Context for Chaucer’s poetry within the politics and governance of his time

Ideal for readers of Chaucer scholarship, medieval history, and students of political life in 14th‑century England.