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15th Sep 2011Chaucer and the Medieval Pilgrimage
Poet in the City and the British Museum held a celebration of the life and poetry of Geoffrey Chaucer. His much-loved Canterbury Tales was the first popular work written in the vernacular, earning Chaucer his place as the father of English literature. -
This spectacular evening was related to the British Museum’s current major exhibition Treasures of Heaven: saints, relics and devotion in medieval Europe. The event featured some of the leading experts on Chaucer as well as readings from his works and from new poetry inspired by The Canterbury Tales.
Gail Ashton has recently published a new biography of Chaucer, and will discuss his fascinating life as a London merchant’s son, courtier, diplomat and civil servant, as well as addressing the much-asked question - was Chaucer murdered?
Robert Swanson is Professor of Medieval History at the University of Birmingham and author of the definitive book on medieval Christianity. He will speak about popular religion and pilgrimage in fourteenth-century society.
Helen Cooper is Professor of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Magdalene College, Cambridge and has published extensively on The Canterbury Tales. She will discuss Chaucer’s works and contribution to English literature.
Patience Agbabi is a prize-winning poet and performer celebrated for her ability to adapt traditional poetic styles to address contemporary issues. She will be reading from her new collection, a modern interpretation of The Canterbury Tales.
Rosalie Jorda, an acclaimed actor, will read from The Canterbury Tales in modern English, and Tom Deveson, a writer and Chaucer enthusiast, will read in Middle English.
Held in conjunction with the British Museum’s current special exhibition,
Treasures of Heaven: saints, relics and devotion in medieval Europe
Until 9th October