Geoffrey Chaucer(c. 1340–1400) was an well-known English author and poet. Son of John Chaucer, a prosperous wine merchant and Agnes de Copton, he secured a position around 1355 as a page in a household of royal rank, that of Prince Lionel, the earl of Ulster, the future duke of Clarence and son of Edward III. This provided a good environment for Chaucer to cultivate his talents as he interacted with the world of aristocracy and developed an appreciation for manners of the court.

Chaucer was known for his keen observation of his surroundings. He acquired knowledge of French and Latin and displayed a tendency to adopt the French style early in his writing career. He was heavily influenced by French works such as the Roman de la Rose, an allegory about love written in eight-syllable couplets by two poets—Guillaume de Lorris and Jean de Meun. In 1369 Chaucer wrote The Book of the Duchess, likely for John of Gaunt’s first wife, Blanche, who died in the same year.

While keeping the French influence, Chaucer began to be influenced by Italian authors such as Dante Alighieri and Boccaccio. One of his works, Troilus and Criseyde, was based on Boccaccio’s Filostrato. Boccaccio provides the basis for four of Chaucer’s characters in his most famous work The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer died on October 25, 1400. His body was buried in Westminster Abbey and was later moved to Poets’ Corner at the east aisle of the south transept.