Chaucer's People

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.