The Life and Times of Chaucer — Gardner, Knopf 1977

📖 The Life and Times of Chaucer by John Gardner (Alfred A. Knopf, 1977) — A narrative biography that reconstructs Geoffrey Chaucer’s life within the turbulent political landscape of fourteenth-century England. This copy is a Third Printing from July 1977, with dust jacket, in Very Good+ condition.

QUICK FACTS

• Author: John Gardner (1933–1982), American novelist, professor of medieval literature, and translator of Middle English poetry
• Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York (Borzoi Book)
• Year: 1977 (Published April 5; Third Printing, July 1977)
• Format: Hardcover in dust jacket
• ISBN: 0-394-49317-6
• Condition: Book: Very Good+ (VG+) / Jacket: Very Good (VG) — full report below

THE STORY

Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343–1400) lived through some of the most dramatic decades in English history — the reigns of Edward III, the deposition of Richard II, and the rise of Henry IV. Gardner, who believed Chaucer was “the greatest poet who ever lived,” draws on bureaucratic records, Chaucer’s own writings, and the broader political context to reconstruct the poet’s extraordinary career: from page to courtier, from diplomat to customs controller, from prisoner-of-war in France to trusted advisor to John of Gaunt. The result is a biography that reads like a narrative, blending scholarly research with the novelist’s eye for story.

THIS EDITION

Published by Knopf as a Borzoi Book — Knopf’s imprint for serious literary nonfiction — in April 1977. This is a Third Printing from July 1977, the same month as the second. The book features period-style calligraphy and illuminated initials by J. Wolf, who also designed the jacket art. The maroon cloth boards carry gold lettering on both spine and front board, with the Knopf borzoi device on the title page.

ILLUSTRATIONS & DESIGN

J. Wolf’s design transforms the entire book into a medieval manuscript experience. The dust jacket features a cream background with Gothic calligraphy and colorful miniature scenes — crowned figures on thrones, a woman at a tower window, a knight in combat, a stylized dragon, and a golden lion — all rendered in the style of illuminated manuscripts. The title page opens with an ornate blackletter “Chaucer” bearing an illuminated initial depicting two figures, and the text throughout includes decorative initials and marginal ornaments. The effect is a volume that visually embodies the world it describes.

WHY IT MATTERS

• Gardner was uniquely qualified: an award-winning novelist (Grendel), a translator of Middle English poetry, and a professor who taught Chaucer’s works for decades
• The book includes a valuable appendix on how to read The Canterbury Tales, making it a practical guide as well as a biography
• Covers the political context — Edward III’s court, the Black Death, the Hundred Years’ War, John of Gaunt’s influence, and the Lollard movement — that shaped Chaucer’s world
• Sumner J. Ferris reviewed the work in Speculum (October 1977), the leading journal of medieval studies, confirming its scholarly engagement

FREQUENTLY ASKED

What edition is this? Third Printing, July 1977. The First Printing was April 1977.

What condition is it in? Book is Very Good+; jacket is Very Good — full report below.

Is this suitable for someone new to Chaucer? Yes. Gardner writes for a general audience, not just medievalists. The appendix on reading The Canterbury Tales is especially helpful for newcomers.

FOR COLLECTORS

This is a clean, well-preserved copy of a notable 1970s Knopf literary biography. The J. Wolf jacket art — with its medieval manuscript aesthetic — makes this edition visually distinctive among Chaucer biographies. Gardner’s early death in 1982 at age 49 cut short a remarkable career, and his Knopf biographies remain among his most admired nonfiction works.

Overall Grade: Book: Very Good+ (VG+)/ Jacket: Very Good (VG)

Cover & Spine: Maroon cloth boards remain clean with clear gilt lettering on the spine and front board. Board corners are crisp, spine head and tail mildly bumped. Cloth uniform in color all around.

Dust Jacket: Original jacket shows mild edge wear, small crinkles near the spine ends, and light toning along the perimeter. Flap intact.

Text Block & Pages: Clean off-white pages with light age-toning along the outer text block edges. Text is free of writing or marks.

Binding: Square and tight. Hinges are firm.

See accompanying images for full condition details.

Will ship promptly, carefully packaged.

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