Introduction: contextualising contexts of Chaucer Ian Johnson; Part I. Chaucer as Context: 1. What was Chaucer like? J. A. Burrow; 2. Chaucer's life and literary 'profession' Andrew Galloway; Part II. Books, Discourse and Traditions: 3. Chaucer's linguistic invention Jeremy J. Smith; 4. Chaucer and London English Jeremy J. Smith; 5. Manuscripts and manuscript culture Rhiannon Purdie; 6. Chaucer's books Wendy Scase; 7. Authority Mishtooni Bose; 8. Literary theory and literary roles Ian Johnson; 9. Metre and versification Ad Putter; 10. Dialogue Sarah James; 11. Romance Stephen H. A. Shepherd; 12. Love Corinne Saunders; 13. Chaucer and the classics Vincent Gillespie; 14. The French context Stephanie Kamath; 15. The Italian tradition K. P. Clarke; 16. The English context Marion Turner; 17. Chaucer's competitors Wendy Scase; 18. Boethius Tim William Machan; Part III. Humans, the World and Beyond: 19. Chaucer's God Ryan Perry; 20. Holiness Marlene Villalobos Hennessy; 21. Secularity Alastair Minnis; 22. The self Valerie Allen; 23. Women Rosalynn Voaden; 24. Sex and lust Bruce Holsinger; 25. Animals in Chaucer Gillian Rudd; Part IV. Culture, Learning and Disciplines: 26. Childhood and education Nicholas Orme; 27. Philosophy Stephen Penn; 28. The medieval universe Seb Falk; 29. Medicine and the mortal body Samantha Katz Seal; 30. The law Richard W. Ireland; 31. Art Julian Luxford; 32. Architecture Richard Fawcett; 33. Heraldry, heralds and Chaucer Katie Stevenson; Part V. Political and Social Contexts: 34. Dissent and orthodoxy John H. Arnold; 35. The Church, religion and culture Rob Lutton; 36. England at home and abroad Anne Curry; 37. Chaucer's borders Anthony Bale; 38. Rank and social orders Chris Given-Wilson; 39. Chivalry Craig Taylor; 40. Chaucer and the polity Gwylim Dodd; 41. The economy Christopher Dyer; 42. Towns, villages and the land Mark Bailey; 43. London's Chaucer: A psychogeography John J. Thompson; 44. Everyday life Wendy Childs; 45. Household and home Peter Fleming; 46. Marriage Sally Dixon-Smith; 47. Dress Laura F. Hodges; Part VI. Chaucer Traditions: 48. The first Chaucerians: reception in the 1400s Robert J. Meyer-Lee; 49. The reception of Chaucer in the Renaissance Alex Davis; 50. The Reception of Chaucer from Dryden to Wordsworth Bruce E. Graver; 51. The reception of Chaucer from the Victorians to the twenty-first century David Matthews; 52. Cyber-Chaucer Stephen Kelly.