Gerald of Wales was one of the greatest British writers of the Middle Ages, writing extensively on politics, literature, ethnography, and on himself. A man of many interests and linguistic competence in a number of languages, he felt himself sidelined in his desire to gain high office within the Church. His Speculum Ecclesiae and Gemma Ecclesiae hold a critical mirror up to the Church of his day, and contain much satirical humour. His works on the culture of Wales and Ireland, drawing on his own experiences and travels, are classics in their field. Gerald was also very learned in classical and patristic writings, often quoting St. Jerome who, like Gerald, suffered from a chip on his shoulder.