Juan Ruiz

Juan Ruiz (ca. 1283 - ca. 1350) was Archpriest of Hita, and is best known for his ribald, earthy epic poem, The Book of Good Love.

Little is known of Ruiz save what we know of his poem. Late in his life, he was imprisoned for years as punishment for some of his deeds (if the poem is any guide, they were quite inconsistent with his position as priest). In retaliation, he wrote a massive, episodic work that chronicled much of medieval society through his eyes: ancient fables, ugly peasants, Ruiz's amorous dalliances with nuns, and what seems to be sincere religious fervor. The breadth of his scope, and the exuberance of his style have caused some to term him "the Spanish Chaucer."