30 review for Geoffrey Chaucer (Chesterton's Biographies)

1. 

   5 out of 5

   M. – Sep 16, 2014

   I do not know how to speak about Chesterton without sounding entirely biased, so you might as well forgive me. More than an historical account of the facts, it's a free essay on the artistic vision of Geoffrey Chaucer in general, beyond The Canterbury Tales, but also a picture of the medieval man, debunking the modernist myth. I wish I had not been so tired at the moment of reading it, but the quantity of interest quotes you can extract from it is incredible, and most of it, shows that Chaucer c I do not know how to speak about Chesterton without sounding entirely biased, so you might as well forgive me. More than an historical account of the facts, it's a free essay on the artistic vision of Geoffrey Chaucer in general, beyond The Canterbury Tales, but also a picture of the medieval man, debunking the modernist myth. I wish I had not been so tired at the moment of reading it, but the quantity of interest quotes you can extract from it is incredible, and most of it, shows that Chaucer can remain very actual and understood, above all. As well as it is a perfect example of Chesterton's brilliant mind.

2. 

   5 out of 5

   José Cárdenas – Oct 18, 2020

   No importa si tienes poco interés por Chaucer, o si no te interesan las biografías: es Chesterton comentando sus propias ideas literarias, religiosas y políticas, y haciéndolo del mejor modo posible. Y además comenta los cuentos de Canterbury.

3. 

   5 out of 5

   Aaron Michael – Apr 07, 2020

   I would be writing this review in French, if Chaucer had not chosen to write in English. I chose to read this book because Chesterton wrote it, not because he chose to write it about Chaucer. And there is more Chesterton here than Chaucer. But, after reading it, I do have a much wider appreciation of the medieval poet and medievalism as a whole. Chesterton writes why he thinks Chaucer is great (calling him "father of all our poets" and "grandfather of all our hundred million novelists"); paints a I would be writing this review in French, if Chaucer had not chosen to write in English. I chose to read this book because Chesterton wrote it, not because he chose to write it about Chaucer. And there is more Chesterton here than Chaucer. But, after reading it, I do have a much wider appreciation of the medieval poet and medievalism as a whole. Chesterton writes why he thinks Chaucer is great (calling him "father of all our poets" and "grandfather of all our hundred million novelists"); paints a picture of the time of Chaucer and medievalism (arguing medievalism was not very dark); touches on his private/public life (quickly); and tackles various topics throughout including romance and chivalry, Chaucer's humor, progressivism, the Renaissance (arguing medievalism was "more rational, or rationalistic"), and much more while of course defending his (and Chaucer's) Catholicism throughout. "Those strangely fanatical historians, who would darken the whole medieval landscape, have to give up Chaucer in despair; because he is obviously not despairing. His mere voice hailing us from a distance has the abruptness of a startling whistle or halloo; a blast blowing away all their artificially concocted atmosphere of gas and gloom. It is as if we opened the door of an ogre's oven, in which we were told that everybody was being roasted alive, and heard a clear, cheery but educated voice remarking that it was a fine day."

4. 

   4 out of 5

   Steve – Dec 07, 2012

   Typically. Chestertonian. A prelude to reading the Canterbury Tales.

5. 

   5 out of 5

   Rebecca Faith Brown – Dec 17, 2021

   Dear G.K.C. is one of my top three authors. Reading him is sitting with a wonderful friend. Even when that friend lumps Calvin in with Nestorius, Mohammed, and Lenin, or calls Calvinism a dark doctrine whose sole point is that men were created by God only to go to Hell. Like any friend, we are not totally like-minded. It was intellectually stimulating, though one-sided, to hear his points for Catholicism over Calvinism. He utilizes Chaucer as an example of an honest Catholic; jollity and love of Dear G.K.C. is one of my top three authors. Reading him is sitting with a wonderful friend. Even when that friend lumps Calvin in with Nestorius, Mohammed, and Lenin, or calls Calvinism a dark doctrine whose sole point is that men were created by God only to go to Hell. Like any friend, we are not totally like-minded. It was intellectually stimulating, though one-sided, to hear his points for Catholicism over Calvinism. He utilizes Chaucer as an example of an honest Catholic; jollity and love of human foibles and steadfast in the face of the, to him, breaking of the good world by the Lollards. I very much enjoyed his discussion of Chaucer's other works, of which I was previously only vaguely aware.

6. 

   4 out of 5

   James Bowman – Jul 07, 2021

   It holds up well as both literary and cultural crticism Chesterton may be largely ignored today other than for the BBC TV series based upon his Father Brown , yet his ruminations upon literature, culture and society remain relevant and valuable today. Read this work and gain a deeper appreciation of Cancer and his Canterbury Tales.

7. 

   4 out of 5

   Alex Lopez – Nov 21, 2021

   A defense of Medieval Christianity, a lot of observations about all sorts of things... And a little about Chaucer.

8. 

   5 out of 5

   Steve – Mar 05, 2012

   Actually a whole lot better than I thought it would be. I picked it up because I am re-reading Chaucer and wanted to get a better feel for the guy and his times. It turned out to be a pretty good read.

9. 

   4 out of 5

   Jacob Aitken – Jul 28, 2013

   Some interesting comments on late medievalism and the market.

10. 

    4 out of 5

    EndeavourPress4 – Oct 02, 2015

    This book is published by Albion Press. Albion Press is an imprint of Endeavour Press.

11. 

    5 out of 5

    Gabriel Syme –

12. 

    5 out of 5

    Anna Speer –

13. 

    4 out of 5

    Steph –

14. 

    4 out of 5

    Rodney Jones –

15. 

    5 out of 5

    Anthony –

16. 

    5 out of 5

    Nick –

17. 

    4 out of 5

    John –

18. 

    4 out of 5

    Jennifer –

19. 

    5 out of 5

    amapola –

20. 

    5 out of 5

    Amanda Patchin –

21. 

    5 out of 5

    Daniel –

22. 

    5 out of 5

    David William Allman –

23. 

    5 out of 5

    Peter Floriani –

24. 

    4 out of 5

    John Bregenzer –

25. 

    5 out of 5

    Jim Coughenour –

26. 

    5 out of 5

    Lucas Pattison –

27. 

    5 out of 5

    Fonch –

28. 

    5 out of 5

    Terence –

29. 

    5 out of 5

    Bethany Bear –

30. 

    5 out of 5

    Suzanne –