The English poet John Gower (ca. 1340-1408) wrote important Latin poems witnessing the two crucial political events of his day: the Peasants' Revolt of 1381 and in 1399 the deposition of Richard II, in the Visio Anglie (A Vision of England) and Cronica tripertita (A Chronicle in Three Parts), respectively. Both poems, usually transmitted with Gower's major Latin work, Vox clamantis, are key primary sources for the historical record, as well as marking culminating points in the development of English literature. The earlier Visio Anglie is verbally derivative of numerous, varied sources, by way of its literary allusions, but is also highly original in its invention and disposition. On the other hand, the Cronica tripertita's organization, even in details, is highly derivative, and from a single source, but its verbal texture is all invented. This volume includes Latin texts of these poems of Gower, newly established from the manuscripts, with commentary on Gower's relation with the rest of the contemporary historical record and with his literary forebears and contemporaries, including Ovid, Virgil, Peter Riga, Nigel Witeker, and Godfrey of Viterbo. This volume also includes Modern English verse translations of the two poems, which are at once critically accurate and enjoyably accessible.

A comprehensive history of medieval Anglo-Latin writings (which represent an astonishing nine tenths of English literary culture in the period). The past century since the last major work on this subject has seen the discovery and editing of many important texts. A. G. Rigg's new authoritative reference work underlines how the view of England's literary history in the Middle Ages as a decline from Anglo-Saxon culture (recuperated only in the fourteenth century in the work of writers such as Chaucer) ignores the flourishing tradition of Latin literature written between England's enforced entry into the European mainstream and the rise of the vernacular and of humanism. It reveals a very rich corpus of writings, comprising epic, lyric, comedy, satire, prose anecdotes, romance, saints' lives and devotional texts. This chronological history gives quotations in the original Latin with English translations in verse or prose; Anglo-Latin metres are explained and exemplified in an appendix.

There has been no comprehensive history of medieval Anglo-Latin writings (which represent an astonishing nine tenths of English literary culture in the period) for over a hundred years. The past century since the last major work on this subject has seen the discovery and editing of many important texts. A. G. Rigg’s new authoritative reference work underlines how the view of England’s literary history in the middle ages as a decline from Anglo-Saxon culture (recuperated only in the fourteenth century in the work of writers such as Chaucer) ignores the flourishing tradition of Latin literature written between England’s enforced entry into the European mainstream and the rise of the vernacular and of humanism. It reveals a very rich corpus of writings, comprising epic, lyric, comedy, satire, prose anecdotes, romance, saints’ lives and devotional texts. This chronological history gives quotations in the original Latin with English translations in verse or prose; Anglo-Latin metres are explained and exemplified in an Appendix.

An introduction to Gower and his work, focusing on his sources, historical context and literary tradition; special attention is paid to Confessio Amantis. Chaucer, Gower and Lydgate were the three poets of their time considered to have founded the English poetic tradition. Gower, like Lydgate, eventually fell victim to changing tastes but is now enjoying renewed scholarly attention.Current work in manuscript studies, linguistic studies, vernacularity, translation, politics, and the contexts of literary production has found a rich source in Gower's trilingual, learned, and politically engaged corpus. This Companion to Gower offers essays by scholars from Britain and North America, covering Gower's works in all three of his languages; they consider his relationships to his literary sources, and to his social, material and historical contexts; and they offer an overview of the manuscript, linguistic, and editorial traditions. Five essays concentrate specifically on the Confessio Amantis, Gower's major Middle English work, reading it in terms of its relationship to vernacular and classical models, its poetic style, and its treatment of such themes as politics, kingship, gender, sexuality, authority, authorship and self-governance. A reference bibliography, arranged as a chronologyof criticism, concludes the volume. Contributors J.A. BURROW, ARDIS BUTTERFIELD, NATHALIE COHEN, E.H. COOPER, SIAN ECHARD, ROBERT EPSTEIN, JOHN HINES, EDWARD MOORE, DEREK PEARSALL, RUSSELL PECK, A.G. RIGG, SIMON ROFFEY, JEREMY J. SMITH, DIANE WATT, WINTHROP WETHERBEE, ROBERT F. YEAGER. SIAN ECHARD is associate professor, Department of English, University of British Columbia. The Companion can serve as an introduction to Gower and his works for the advanced undergraduate or graduate student, and the essays will also be of interest to experts in Middle English studies and in Gower.