Geoffrey Chaucer is a respected figure in English literature, best known for his influential medieval poetry.
His most famous work, The Canterbury Tales, humorously portrays pilgrims on a storytelling journey, showcasing his keen social observations and lively character portrayals.
If you enjoy reading books by Geoffrey Chaucer then you might also like the following authors:
William Langland was an English poet best known for his allegorical poem Piers Plowman. His style blends vivid social commentary with dream-like narrative. Like Chaucer, Langland focuses on moral questions, human behavior, and corruption within society and the church.
Through symbolic characters and scenes, the poem illustrates a quest for truth in a morally complex world.
The anonymous Pearl Poet wrote the poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. His works often feature symbolic imagery, intricate structure, and a deep moral dimension.
In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, he portrays chivalry, honor, temptation, and human imperfection in a medieval setting, sharing Chaucer's interests in complex human nature and morality.
John Gower was a contemporary of Chaucer whose writing addresses moral and philosophical themes. In his poem Confessio Amantis, Gower uses narrative storytelling to explore questions about love, society, and morality.
Similar to Chaucer, Gower examines the human condition, ethical conduct, and the values of his time through vivid stories and relatable characters.
Dante Alighieri, the Italian poet famous for the epic poem The Divine Comedy, wrote with a style rich in allegory and symbolism. His themes often revolve around morality, redemption, human folly, and divine justice.
Like Chaucer, Dante portrays an intricate world filled with satirical criticism of societal issues and religious hypocrisy, guiding readers through spiritual reflection and self-examination.
Giovanni Boccaccio was an Italian writer best known for The Decameron. Composed of witty and lively short stories, Boccaccio's writing highlights human nature, social dynamics, and the challenges of his era.
Boccaccio's portrayals of daily life, humor, and keen social observation are qualities readers who appreciate Chaucer's realistic and satirical style will enjoy.
Christine de Pizan is a medieval French writer known for advocating women's rights and discussing their roles in literature and society. Her style is elegant yet direct. She often explores themes of gender equality, wealth, morality, and education.
In her book The Book of the City of Ladies, Christine imagines a symbolic city, built and inhabited entirely by virtuous and remarkable women throughout history. Readers who appreciate Chaucer's skillful social commentary would find her work insightful.
François Villon was a French poet whose verses express a gritty realism and a vivid portrayal of medieval life. His style is bold, frank, and full of streetwise wit, vividly capturing both life’s pleasures and hardships.
In the Ballad of the Hanged, Villon reflects honestly and poignantly on mortality and human suffering. Those who enjoy Chaucer's earthy humor and unvarnished character portrayals would likely appreciate Villon's honest insight into human nature.
Marie de France was a medieval French poet famous for imaginative and elegantly written narratives. She wrote in lyrical, concise, and refined language, focusing largely on themes of romance, adventure, love, and morality.
Her work Lais of Marie de France is a series of short, poetic tales full of magic, chivalry, and courtly love. Her blend of storytelling skill and poetic beauty would appeal to readers drawn to Chaucer's sophisticated storytelling and romance.
Chrétien de Troyes is a storyteller known for his influential romances about King Arthur and his knights. His style combines adventure, courtly romance, and an exploration of chivalry and honor.
In the renowned romance Perceval, the Story of the Grail, Chrétien explores themes of quest, honor, and self-discovery. Readers who like Chaucer's tales of chivalrous deeds and heroic journeys will find much to enjoy in Chrétien's works.
Thomas Malory was an English writer known for compiling and crafting the legends of King Arthur into a single coherent narrative. His narrative style is clear and direct, rich with tales of knights, quests, honor, and tragedy.
His best-known work, Le Morte d'Arthur, offers an accessible and engaging telling of Arthurian legend, full of adventure, loyalty, betrayal, and tragedy.
Those who like Chaucer's storytelling and exploration of noble virtue and human flaws would greatly appreciate Malory's tales.
If you enjoy Geoffrey Chaucer's playful storytelling and vivid characters, you may like the ancient Roman poet Ovid. Ovid's works often explore human relationships, myths, and transformations with humor and lively narratives.
His best-known poem, Metamorphoses, portrays a series of intriguing and humorous mythological tales, much like Chaucer's own storytelling.
Fans of Chaucer might appreciate John Lydgate, an English poet who followed closely in Chaucer's footsteps. Lydgate wrote richly detailed tales with a clear moral focus, blending humor, satire, and thoughtful reflections like Chaucer did.
His poem The Troy Book tells of the Trojan War in an engaging and accessible manner, echoing Chaucer's lively style.
If you enjoy Chaucer's more personal and reflective writings, give Thomas Hoccleve a try. Hoccleve admired and was influenced by Chaucer, writing intimate poetry that deals openly with his personal experiences and struggles.
In The Regiment of Princes, he combines practical wisdom and advice with disarmingly sincere self-reflections, resonating with the personal side of Chaucer's poetry.
Readers drawn to Chaucer's poetic explorations of love and emotional experiences might appreciate Petrarch, an Italian poet who wrote beautifully refined lyrical poetry exploring personal emotions, longing, and idealized love.
His influential collection, Canzoniere, contains poetic expressions of his unrequited love for Laura, capturing deep emotional insights that Chaucer himself admired and was inspired by.
If Chaucer's satirical perspectives on society appeal to you, explore Jean de Meun, a medieval French author who sharply questioned social attitudes, religion, and human behavior through vivid allegorical poetry.
His continuation of The Romance of the Rose is thought-provoking and witty, challenging contemporary ideas while vividly exploring love, society, and human nature—elements that likely influenced Chaucer's own satirical approach.