It is a very characteristic document of his individual style in his early career, even though a modern reader might find it less relatable at first than for instance The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer wrote The Book of Duchess after the sudden death of the Duchess Blanche, John of Gaunt`s wife, who died of plague. It is not known whether John Gaunt commissioned the poem or whether it was an unsolicited tribute. There is no solid evidence to support the idea that it was used in an official commendation ceremony, and emphasizing its private and personal nature does little to enhance the poem
It is a very characteristic document of his individual style in his early career, even though a modern reader might find it less relatable at first than for instance The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer wrote The Book of Duchess after the sudden death of the Duchess Blanche, John of Gaunt`s wife, who died of plague. It is not known whether John Gaunt commissioned the poem or whether it was an unsolicited tribute. There is no solid evidence to support the idea that it was used in an official commendation ceremony, and emphasizing its private and personal nature does little to enhance the poem