John Gower

Born in the 14th century and dying in 1408, John Gower was a poet closely associated with the literary world of Richard II’s England. He is often remembered alongside Geoffrey Chaucer, and his reputation rests on an unusual range: he wrote substantial works in three languages used in medieval England—Latin, French, and English.

His best-known English poem, Confessio Amantis, is a long collection of stories framed as a lover’s confession, blending entertainment with moral reflection. Gower also wrote Vox Clamantis in Latin and Mirour de l’Omme in French, showing how comfortably he moved across different audiences and traditions.

Although he is less widely read today than some of his contemporaries, Gower remains important for the breadth of his writing and for what it reveals about the concerns of his age: love, ethics, government, and social disorder. He was buried in Southwark, where his tomb still helps keep his memory alive.