John Gower wrote three major works: one in Latin (Vox Clamantis: "The Voice of One Crying"), one in French (Mirour de l'omme: "The Mirror of Man"), and one in English, (Confessio Amantis). There may be some sense of insecurity embodied in the Latin title for the latter, which translated means "A Lover's Confession." The first two works were completed before 1385, the third sometime after that, probably in the 1390s, though there is evidence that he revised it more than once after its initial publication. The exact date of his birth is obscure, but probably around 1330; he died in 1408, however, and is buried in St. Mary Overeys Priory Church, which is now Southwark Cathedral.

In the Confessio, the lover (Gower) is forced, by Venus, to "confess" to her priest, Genius (a character drawn from the Roman de la Rose). "In 34,000 lines the Lover learns about the seven deadly sins and the three Estates through a huge collection of exempla designed to help him recognize his cupidity. At the end, Venus releases him, and he returns to his books" (Chaucer: Sources and Backgrounds, p. 193).