{"product_id":"chaucer-the-life-and-times-of-the-first-english-poet-paperback","title":"Chaucer: The Life and Times of the First English Poet - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eRichard West\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'A genuinely fascinating book, the best kind of popular history' Literary Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis first, and some would say greatest, poet of the English language stands before the gateway of the early modern age.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eChaucer lived at a time when the elite languages of former conquerors, French and Latin, were both giving way to English - no longer just the vernacular of the common people, but increasingly the language of the court, the law, and of literature.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRichard West weaves a fascinating picture of this extraordinary man - spy and poet - whose character has intrigued and puzzled lovers of his comic masterpiece, \"The Canterbury Tales\".\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHow did Chaucer remain so apparently cheerful and serene, through one of the cruellest eras of history? As a child he survived the Black Death, later he fought in France during the Hundred Years War, served as a diplomat in Italy, and became an MP at the angry beginnings of the Protestant Reformation, the Peasants' Revolt and the overthrow of Richard II.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHow much was Chaucer shaped by the age, and how much did Chaucer shape his era?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis acclaimed biography and history book will appeal to both the general reader and medievalist.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRichard West\u003c\/b\u003e was a celebrated journalist and much admired biographer. He is also the author of 'The Life and Strange Surprising Adventure of Daniel Defoe.'\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 254\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.53 x 8 x 5 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e September 12, 2020\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51787953897760,"sku":"9798685558602","price":16.18,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/9764\/5344\/files\/11c87fe26a602b0d64fd94a24a5a93bd.webp?v=1780653564","url":"https:\/\/ebocreations.com\/products\/chaucer-the-life-and-times-of-the-first-english-poet-paperback","provider":"The E-Book Oasis LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}