Mary Flannery is Swiss National Science Foundation Eccellenza Professorial Fellow at the University of Bern. She is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the Society of Antiquaries, has published widely on medieval literature and culture, and writes regularly for the TLS. Her publications include Practising Shame: Female Honour in Later Medieval England (2019).
"""The paradox of reading Chaucer is that we feel we know the poet through his works; but we are still uncovering new things about his life. In this lively and engaging study, Mary Flannery guides us through the complex worlds of fourteenth-century court life, Chaucer's poetry, and its rich reception history, while also addressing recent biographical discoveries. This beautifully illustrated book is an excellent and up-to-date introduction to Chaucer and late medieval culture, focusing on the history and significance of Chaucer's reputation as a poet of mirth and merriment.""--Stephanie Trigg, University of Melbourne ""A lively gallop through Chaucer's life and afterlife, enhanced by beautiful illustrations and plentiful textual quotation. Mary Flannery focuses on Chaucer as entertainer and humorist, exploring both what makes him fun, and why, in recent centuries, his geniality has become his defining trait.""--Marion Turner, author of 'The Wife of Bath: A Biography'"