num_pages: 144
description: In this collection of poems, among his very best, Chaucer showcases his lyrical skills to perfection. Verging from tragic to comic, the overriding theme of the poetry is love, in its many guises. Chaucer tells of his passion for reading, which allows him to eavesdrop on a "parliament of birds" on St Valentine’s Day; he tells how he, as an inveterate reader, forsakes his books on the first of May to wander into the fields; he complains of being short of money; and he complains to his scribe for copying his verses badly. All in all, in the course of the poetry he reveals a lot about himself, and does so throughout in an engaging and civilized manner.
language: English
title: The Parliament of Birds
titlecomplete: The Parliament of Birds (Hesperus Poetry)
genres: Fiction, Medieval, Classics, Poetry, Read For School, Academic, Birds, Geoffrey Chaucer, Literature, 14th Century
ratings_count: 505
publisher: Hesperus Press