Chaucer Here and Now

About the exhibition

Misogynist. Feminist. Conservative. Radical. Respectful. Irreverent. Monocultural. Multicultural. Imperial. Domestic. English. European. Catholic. Protestant.

Chaucer Here and Now presents Geoffrey Chaucer as you haven’t seen him before. Not as the “Father of English Literature”, but as a dynamic, global author, whose works have been reworked and reinterpreted over time and around the world. Each generation reinvents Chaucer, taking inspiration from his work, and finding new meanings.

Drawing on material ranging from the earliest known manuscript of The Canterbury Tales to contemporary adaptions in theatre and film, this exhibition explores the many creative responses to Chaucer and asks why this medieval author still fascinates so many people today.

Come and reinvent Geoffrey Chaucer for yourself.

      
'The Bodleian's superb new exhibition upends the medieval author's staid reputation as the father of English literature.'
The Telegraph

 

The green and yellow front cover of 'Chaucer Here and Now'

Chaucer Here and Now

Edited by Marion Turner
Available now

Accompanying the exhibition is this fascinating collection of essays exploring the different ‘Chaucers’ that readers, writers and artists have imagined across time. Richly illustrated with images of early manuscripts and rare editions, and drawing from a wide range of adaptations and interpretations across the centuries, Chaucer Here and Now shows that Chaucer is available for every here and now to remake, rework and reinvent.

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 Curator

This exhibition is curated by Professor Marion Turner, JRR Tolkien Professor of English Literature and Language at the University of Oxford.

Exhibition tours

Chaucer Here and Now exhibition tours are available on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 2pm – 2.45pm and are open to all. These free gallery tours are led by our dedicated volunteer team and places are limited. 

You do not need to book a tour to visit the exhibition. Please meet by the entrance doors to Chaucer Here and Now at the rear of Blackwell Hall. 

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Exhibition highlights

A manuscript volume open to a beautifully illuminated page, above a board with a caption
A manuscript volume open to a beautifully illuminated page, above a board with a caption
A theatre programme for Zadie Smith's 'Wife of Willesden', and the front cover of the printed version of the text
A colourful wheel with 8 segments, each labelled with a different adjective
A brilliantly colourful popup book with 3D figures and scenes and text from the Miller's Tale in bright capitals
web chaucer exhibition 5
A printed page from 'The wanton Wife of Bath' with illustrations of a man and a woman at the top of the page, and two columns of Chaucer's poem
A beautifully illuminated front page of Caxton's edition of The Canterbury Tales, illustrated with flowers and vines in red, blue and green
A black and white illustration of Chaucer depicting his family tree as descended from the ancestors of Henry VII, with a drawing of the poet in the centre
An elaborately decorated page with black and white illustrations of leaves
The red, black and gold front cover of a Japanese translation of The Canterbury Tales, showing a portion of a medieval manuscript with a man on a horse

Events related to this exhibition

In the gallery

Please note an ambient soundtrack and spoken word plays in this exhibition.

More information

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