Born in Somerset probably between 1257 and 1265

Aged 49 when he wrote commentary on Seneca’s Declamations (written between 1307 & 1314)

Second son of Sir Thomas Trevet (d. 1280/81), a Somerset landowner, and his wife Eleanor

Nothing known of early life but appears to have entered the Dominican order in his late teens or early twenties

Joined the London convent but in the late 1280s was sent to study at Oxford

1297 appointed as the Dominicans’ representative to receive royal alms for the order’s general chapter

Incepted as doctor of theology c.1302 and remained in Oxford teaching and studying until at least 1307 – prominent figure in the debates of the theology faculty

May also have been engaged in pastoral work or Dominican business outside the university – spent some time in Salisbury and seems to have visited number of religious houses in southern England and examined their libraries

Growing reputation as a scholar and perhaps a pastor attracted friendship and patronage of senior clerical figures and members of the nobility

In early years of 14^th century made the first of several visits to the continent – spent much of his time abroad in the company of fellow Dominicans

Details of travel are unclear but certainly visited Italy

From c.1307 settled in Paris where he studied at the University, but also continued to travel through France and Italy, visiting Avignon for the Dominican general chapter in 1308, and probably also Florence, Padua and Pisa

Travels had a significant impact on his work as a scholar – introduced him to new currents in classical scholarship and particular to the work of Paduan scholars and forged contacts with distinguished curialists

Encouraged by Cardinal Nicolò da Prato, dean of the Sacred College, to write new commentaries of his own

Commissioned by Prato to write a commentary on Seneca’s Tragedies and also appears to have been asked to write a commentary on Livy’s Ab urbe condita for Pope John XXII

Recalled to Oxford in late 1314 – reached Oxford before 24 December 1314 when he was present at a feast in memory of Piers Gaveston (d. 1312) whose body was resting at the Oxford Blackfriars on its way to Langley for burial

Then appears to have resumed his career as a master in the faculty of theology but also worked on a wide range of compositions for his English and continental patrons

Wrote several theological treatises for senior Dominican figures, including the prior provincial, John Bristol and Edward II’s confessor, John Lenham, and chronicles for the Lady Mary (d. 1332), daughter of Edward I, who was a nun at Amesbury, and for Hugues d’Angoulême, archdeacon of Canterbury

Retired from the schools c 1320 and returned to the London convent.

1324 appointed to the community’s lector – testimony to his continuing reputation as a theologian

Still alive in 1334 when he was recorded as a member of the house

Nothing further known of his career and therefore likely to have died before end of the decade

Not a typical schoolman – at the height of his career, between 1314 and 1320, he completed 3 chronicles in Latin and French – unusual compositions either for an academic or a friar

Annales sex regum Angliaae, chronicle from 1135 – 1307, represented genune attempt to write contemporary history – detailed accounts of recent events including the barons’ and Scottish wars and with perceptive character sketches of Henry III and Edward I based on recollections of those who had known them – widely read throughout the late medieval period and had considerable influence on the work of later historians

Most important and influential works were his classical commentaries on Boethius, Seneca and Livy, as well as Virgil and Augustine

His commentaries weren’t wholly original but was one of the first English scholars since the 12^th century to develop an extensive knowledge of classical authors and was the earliest northern European writer to absorb new Italian currents in classical scholarship. The commentaries also offered European scholars, often for the first time, complete and accurate texts of works of undisputed importance

Wide circulation of his works – almost 300 manuscripts survive from all parts of Europe

Best-known work probably commentary on Boethius – more than 100 manuscript copies survive – especially popular in Italy where it was translated into the vernacular in the later 14^th century and used by Petrarch and Boccaccio

Commentary on Seneca’s Tragedies also circulated widely – evidence that it was cited in a letter attributed to Dante

In the context of Europe as a whole, his legacy was not so much to transform late medieval literary criticism as to provide later scholars with indispensable source books on ancient authors which remained the basis of much classical scholarship in Europe until the 16^th century.