Geoffrey Chaucer

Geoffrey Chaucer, while still a teenager, served as an attendant to the king's daughter-in-law. During his lifetime he held many positions, including royal courtier, diplomat, controller of customs, and member of Parliament. Through travel and reading, Chaucer learned about European culture, especially the works of Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio. A brilliant poet, Chaucer gave the world some of the most memorable characters ever created in the English language.