The Clerkenwell Tales – Peter Ackroyd

Ackroyd is a marvellous writer about London, as shown in London: the Biography, his book on Blake and his best novels (The House of Doctor Dee, Dan Leno and the Limehouse Golem). This book evokes London brilliantly, with constant references to the sounds and smells of the city and its variety of people.

The Clerkenwell Tales is set in 1399 and tells a tale of religious skulduggery as witnessed by a sequence of characters familiar to those who have read The Canterbury Tales. Ackroyd also has contemporary events in mind. The main danger is a group of religious fanatics who believe they are “chosen” and cannot be punished for any sin including terrorism and murder. It transpires that these fanatics are merely pawns in a much bigger political game. What can Ackroyd possibly be suggesting?

As a thriller it only half-works thanks to a lack of focus, but it’s worth reading for the historical detail and thought-provoking political subtext. If you’re new to the author, though, go for one of the books I mentioned up there in the opening paragraph.