Complete Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, Vol. IV

Geoffrey Chaucer played a pivotal role in establishing English as a significant literary language during the 14th century. His works, especially The Canterbury Tales, celebrated the vernacular and influenced both nobility and the emerging literate merchant class. Chaucer's innovative narrative style and structure have inspired countless writers, and his legacy continued to shape literary standards into the 16th and 17th centuries, setting a benchmark for how authors were presented to the public.