Jill Mann

Jill Mann (born 1932) is a prominent scholar of medieval literature, particularly renowned for her work on Chaucer and medieval allegory. She is a Fellow Emerita of Girton College, Cambridge, where she taught for many years.

Mann's scholarly contributions are characterized by their meticulous attention to detail, insightful analysis, and engagement with a wide range of critical perspectives. Her work has been influential in shaping the understanding of medieval literary conventions, philosophical ideas, and social contexts.

Some of her most significant publications include:

• Chaucer and Medieval Estates Satire: The Literature of Social Classes and the General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales (1973): A seminal work exploring the tradition of estates satire and its impact on Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.

• Allegories of Reading: Figural Narrative in the Wake of the Roman de la Rose (1989): An examination of the nature of allegory in medieval texts following the influential Roman de la Rose.

• Geoffrey Chaucer (1991): A comprehensive and accessible introduction to Chaucer's life and works.

• From Aesop to Reynard: Beast Literature in Medieval Britain (2017): A study of animal narratives in medieval British literature, tracing their evolution and significance.

Mann's work is valued for its clarity, rigor, and accessibility, making it essential reading for scholars and students of medieval literature. Her analyses have significantly advanced the understanding of the complexities of medieval texts and their cultural contexts.