Published in 1946, Geoffrey Chaucer of England by Marchette Chute stands out as a remarkable biography, crafted for the general reader in a field otherwise dominated by scholarly texts. The absence of a comparable popular biography of Chaucer highlights the unique space Chute's work occupies. While scholarly biographies delve deeply into intricate analyses intended for a specialized audience, Chute’s writing distinguishes itself with its unpretentious and accessible prose, making Chaucer's life and work approachable to a wider audience.

Although Chute relied exclusively on secondary sources—drawing upon the works of established Chaucer scholars—her book reflects a robust scholarly foundation. She meticulously digested these materials, ensuring that her interpretations were well-informed yet independent. Notably, Chute was judicious in how she engaged with her sources, notably rejecting attempts to link Chaucer's fictional characters directly to real-life counterparts from his social circle. She wisely deemed such connections speculative at best, considering the six centuries separating us from Chaucer’s era.

Chute's enduring success lies in her ability to inspire readers to appreciate Chaucer both as a man and as an artist. Her work encourages a personal exploration of his stories and persona, a testament to her skill in making the distant past feel immediate and inviting. Despite changes in scholarship since Chute's time, her biography continues to draw readers into the world of Geoffrey Chaucer, maintaining its relevance and charm.