This is the first novel I've read by Ackroyd, though I'm familiar with his more famous work "Hawksmoor" which has been adapted as radio drama.

"The Clerkenwell Tales" is a relatively short work, some 205 pages and a few pages of explanatory notes, but it manages to pack a lot of action in nevertheless. Essentially a political thriller set against the turbulent events of the end of Richard II's reign in 1399, it weaves threads of heresy, murder and intrigue into a coherent whole.

One novel (ahem) factor is Ackroyd's shameless hijacking of many, if not most, of the characters familiar as the pilgrims of Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" who here are fleshed out and given specific identities as the players in the action and on whom, chapter by chapter, the story focuses in turn.

This book was almost worth 4 but was reluctantly marked down a notch due to several moments in which Ackroyd's hand is clumsy and intrusive in commenting on the action or implications for the plot of some development or other. It remains an easy and pleasing read however and whiles away a few hours. ( )

http://tessas-booksbooksbooks.blogspo... ( )

Peter Ackroyd (who knows London better?) brings 14th c. London alive--with the intrigue of Bolingbroke's political machination, religious conflicts, superstitions, and near anarchy in the streets. ( )

Very strange style. The characterisation was poor so it was difficult to remember who was who and the names were unfamiliar which made this even worse. I probably wouldn't read another book by this author if I had the choice. ( )

Ackroyd's books are impressive because he's obviously researched his subjects well. But The Clerkenwell Tales never properly engaged me although I mostly enjoyed it. I just don't know enough about life at the end of fourteenth century. ( )