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Introduction

The Book of the Duchess is a dream vision narrative poem by Geoffrey Chaucer.

The Book of the Duchess, also known as The Deth of Blaunche^[1] is the earliest of Chaucer’s major poems, preceded only by his short poem, "An ABC," and possibly by his translation of The Romaunt of the Rose. Most sources put the date of composition between 1369 and 1372, though more recent studies suggest it may have been completed as early as late 1368.

Overwhelming (if disputed) evidence suggests that Chaucer wrote the poem to commemorate the death of Blanche of Lancaster, wife of John of Gaunt. The evidence includes handwritten notes from Elizabethan antiquary John Stowe indicating that the poem was written at John of Gaunt’s request. In addition, there are repeated instances of the word “White,” which is almost certainly a play on “Blanche.”

The poem tells the story of the poet’s dream. Wandering a wood, the poet discovers a knight clothed in black, and inquires of the knight’s sorrow. Throughout the poem, pieces of the knight’s story become more and more apparent, until the cause of the mourning is plainly stated and the knight leaves.