Geoffrey ChaucerChau·cer, Geof·frey /ˈtʃɔːsə, ˈdʒefri $ ˈtʃɒːsər/ (?1340–1400) an English writer known for his long poem The Canterbury Tales, one of the most important works in English literature. It is about a group of pilgrims travelling to Canterbury, who tell each other stories.