The Book of the Duchess, Chaucer's first significant work, is an elegy mourning the death of Blanche, John of Gaunt's first wife. It was probably written between 1359 and 1363, but not published until 1386. It is an open question whether or not it was directly inspired by Blanche's death, but there are many similarities between the two women that make them likely candidates for inspiration. They were both young, beautiful princesses who married powerful men late in life. Blanche was betrothed to Louis IX of France when she was just nine years old, and she died before the marriage could be consummated. She was only twenty-one years old when she died. John of Gaunt married her when he was fifty years old, after already being married to Katherine of Valois for eighteen years. He was so devastated by her death that he never remarried. He died four years later, alone and childless. Chaucer wrote about a fictional duchess, but there are hints that he knew his subject matter might one day be his own death. The Book of the Duchess was probably written during a time of great political turmoil in England, with disputes over the succession to the throne.