Gower, John.
- Author/Editor
- Gray, Douglas.
- Title
- Gower, John.
- Published
- Gray, Douglas. '"Gower, John." In H. C. G. Matthew and Brian Harrison, eds. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 61 vols. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004. Vol. 23, pp. 125-30.
- Review
- One of his nineteen contributions to the ODNB, Gray's biography of Gower opens with mention of Gower's tomb and date of death in 1408, estimating his birth as '"in the 1330s or 1340s," then proceeds to describe Gower's '"Family origins," correcting errors in Caxton's 1483 edition and other early biographies and clarifying the poet's origins in Kent and his connections with Yorkshire. Gray comments on Gower's role in the '"messy affair" of the purchase of the manor of Aldington Septvauns in Kent, and thinks it probable that Gower held '"some legal or civil office," citing evidence from the "Mirour de l'Omme" of his '"good knowledge of legal privileges and terminology." He then moves on to evidence that Gower lived in Southwark, his financial transactions, Lancastrian SS-collar, and late-in-life marriage to Agnes Groundolf (refraining from guessing why). Gray observes that, of Gower's life in the priory of St. Mary Overie, '"virtually nothing is known," and that the '"mysterious incident" involving Thomas Caudre, for whom three Londoners were mainprisors "that he would do or procure no harm to John Gower, remains unexplained: it may refer to a private quarrel, or to some financial dealings, or to some political disagreement." Beginning his description of Gower's "Literary career" Gray explains the difficulty in dating any early lyrical poetry that may reside in the late manuscript of "Cinkante Balades." Summary descriptions of "Mirour de l'Omme," "Vox Clamantis," and "Confessio Amantis ensue, accompanied by appreciative comments, and followed by similar treatments of Gower's short Latin poems, "In Praise of Peace," and "Cronica Tripertita." Throughout, Gray comments on political backgrounds to Gower's works and on relations between his works and Chaucer's. In his final sub-section--'"Last years, death, and reputation"--Gray returns to Gower at St. Mary Overie and Gower's tomb, along with other portraiture of the poet. Gray comments on the central place the CA holds in Gower's reputation, its Iberian translations ('"unusual" for a Middle English poem), and the negative treatment Gower received among nineteenth-century critics, replaced by '"serious study" undertaken after the publication of Macaulay's edition. A brief but useful list of sources closes Gray's account. [MA. Copyright. John Gower Society. eJGN 43.2]
- Date
- 2004
- Gower Subjects
- Biography of Gower
Backgrounds and General Criticism