Selections from John Gower

by John Gower

Gower was the most prolific English poet of the fourteenth century and, except for Chaucer, the most versatile. The sheer bulk of his English work and the cost of the only edition available, have hitherto deterred many readers, whilst others have been misled by Chaucer's description of him as 'moral'. The stories in this volume show that, far from being a rigorous moralist, Gower is compassionate, tolerant and perceptive -- and has a distinct ironic humour. His portrait of the superannuated lover is deftly sketched; the form of the lover's confession has its own rationale; and the verse is always neat and flexible. In the light of this selection it is easy to understand why Chaucer and Gower valued each other's friendship. Besides tales from the "Confessio amantis", the volume contains part of the moving poem on Peace, three of the French balades, and passages from the longer French and Latin poems.