Publisher's Synopsis
This volume situates Chaucer's life and writings within the context of 14th-century history, national and international, giving a broad general outline of the period for those coming to it for the first time.;It also focuses on particular poetic texts, including "The Canterbury Tales", "Troilus and Creseyde", "The Book of the Duchess" and "The Parliament of Fools", interpreting them in the light of contemporary ideology and literary practice.