Chaucer's People

January 15, 2019
What was it like to live in 14th-century England?Historian Picard (Victorian London, 2005, etc.) continues her series of books that provide insightful, detailed, and entertaining examinations of life in England, and London in particular. Her latest goes back to the 1300s, when the country experienced turbulent times: war, a pandemic, rebellion, and regime change. As her jumping-off point, Picard uses Geoffrey Chaucer's (1340-1400) "motley bunch" of pilgrims from his Canterbury Tales. During the two days of their journey (they never arrive), they share stories and experiences. Picard's critical and close reading of the Tales and extensive historical research provide her with a wealth of information about the personalities of each pilgrim and their everyday lives. She divides them into four groups: country, city, religious life, and the armed services. First up is the "eye-catching" Wife of Bath. Picard delves into her marriages (five), her other pilgrimages--did she "benefit spiritually" from them? "Chaucer leaves us in doubt"--and her appearance, which then leads to a discussion of the wool trade. This is how the book is organized, with one topic cascading into another. Another example is the author's description of the Sergeant of the Law's appearance, followed by a discussion of the courts at this time: how they functioned, civil and criminal cases, land law, the Magna Carta, and so on. Most of the material is lively and highly instructive, though not many readers will be rushing to reproduce the many recipes included in the "Cook" section. Picard claims that Chaucer's portrait of the monk is the "most vivid of any of the pilgrims," and she suggests that the Knight's young, "fashionable" squire is a portrait of Chaucer's own son. "It's pleasant," she writes, "to think of a loving fatherly eye contemplating Thomas." The author also gleefully notes those pilgrims who suffer the caustic "Chaucerian sting."An ideal companion volume for readers of the Tales and a useful stand-alone history of the period.

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February 11, 2019
Writing in the same detailed yet readable style as her Elizabeth’s London, Picard uses Chaucer’s descriptions of common occupations delve into the smells, grit, and rituals of medieval life in the burgeoning city of London. Four themed sections (“Country Life,” “City Life,” “The Religious Life,” and “The Armed Services”) provide a framework for multiple related chapters filled with mesmerizing historical details, including why new wine was considered better than aged, and even recipes for the intrepid modern reader (such as one for an almond milk–onion soup). Nameless innkeepers, prostitutes, and merchants populate the pages, and famous figures such as Edward the Black Prince and St. Francis of Assisi also appear in segues to chapters about military hierarchy and the four primary religious orders. Picard neatly connects all this to the broader context, so history buffs can pick up any chapter and feel like they are visiting old friends. She also includes biographical tidbits about Chaucer’s work in the wool trade, his possible residence as a law student at the Inner Temple Inn, and the likelihood that his son Thomas served as the model for the Squire in The Canterbury Tales. Picard’s distinctive approach of pairing historical context and literature provides an unvarnished look into the ordinary people immortalized in Chaucer’s art.

March 1, 2019
The evolving English language isn't the only barrier separating modern readers from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. The 600 years dividing us from his fictional pilgrims have also eliminated the frame of reference Chaucer shared with his first audience, obscured his cultural references, and defanged his social commentary. History-writer Picard (Victorian London, 2006) restores these elements by reintroducing readers to each of Chaucer's pilgrims. In short chapters, she describes their professions and social roles: the seemingly familiar, like the knight and the miller, as well as the more obviously obscure, such as the manciple, prioress, and pardoner. She provides clear, sprightly introductions to the big-picture issues in their lives, covering feudal order, medieval medicine, chivalry, and the tradition of pilgrimage, and unpacks the specific elements of each portrayal, such as their clothing and personalities. Picard also casts light on some Chaucerian shade, showing how he made readers "view commonly accepted clich�s in a distorting mirror" with clever wordplay that called social norms into question. This fast-paced, entertaining overview will appeal to students and fans of medieval history.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)