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Absolutely brilliant. To fully appreciate him, read him in the original Middle English (it isn't very hard, and there are dictionaries available). Try reading the Prologue to the Canterbury Tales aloud, and hear the rythmic beauty of his language. One of the finest writers in history.

How many other authors can hope to be read all these many centuries later.

The Father of the narrative tradition in English and one of the truly great poets of world literature. Chaucer, in masterful fashion, refigured the fableaux of Boccaccio and other very early modern Italian poets into completely new poetic approaches and conventions, and the result, most notably The Canterbury Tales, is one of the most vital and influential canons ever produced by any writer. The Tales, which are a 14th century English take on The Decameron, is poetically well conceived and executed, insightful into human nature and class antagonism, allegiant to the traditions of earlier literary precursors, ribald and very, very funny. The grace and expressiveness of his language is astounding, and well worth the time and effort to learn the Middle English idiom. To read his work in modern English is reductive and entirely misses the point, so anyone who would suggest that you read Chaucer in a modern translation is a shovelhead. The Miller's Tale is a total hoot, and The Pardonner's Tale is one of the most uncomfortable and disconcerting pieces of literature you're ever likely to encounter. His Romant de la Rose is also a masterwork and he also wrote some very good, ideosyncratic sonnets, as well. Chaucer's reputation is enduring, and for good reason, as his achievement, which had little in English literary tradition to draw upon, was the first major body of work by any English writer, setting standards and forms that poets would subsequently follow for centuries. This guy rates up there with Shakepeare, Spenser, Milton and Keats as the greatest English poets: pretty good company to be in.

I vote for this guy in the hope that that scumbag hemmingway will drop a place.

In regards to studying English Literature in Britain, this author is essential, we get to learn how our language developed. I honestly think that 'Canterbury Tales' would not be the same if it was written in Modern English as there are too many interpretations of the text. You have to have a really good lecturer or someone who has an extremely good knowledge of English Lit to take you through his works so you can grasp and appreciate what he wrote.

"Ye Olde Englisshe" can be off-putting -- Get a version written in modern English and dive into this great storyteller.