Geoffrey Chaucer

The 'Father of English Literature' who revolutionized medieval writing with vernacular storytelling and social critique in *The Canterbury Tales*.

Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343–1400) transformed English literature by abandoning Latin and French to write in Middle English, making literature accessible to the masses. His masterpiece, The Canterbury Tales, is a collection of 24 stories framed as a pilgrimage, offering a panoramic view of 14th-century society.

Chaucer's use of humor, irony, and vivid characters—like the Wife of Bath and the Pardoner—challenged feudal hierarchies and religious hypocrisy. By blending genres like romance, fabliaux, and sermon, he pioneered literary realism. His work influenced later giants like Shakespeare and Dickens.

Beyond writing, Chaucer served as a diplomat and civil servant under three kings. His travels to Italy exposed him to Dante and Boccaccio, inspiring his experimental style. Despite political turmoil, including the Peasants' Revolt of 1381, his works endure as foundational texts in English curricula worldwide.