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Amazon.co.uk Review
Although this is a work of fiction, it is nonetheless as rich in historical material as, say, his evocative London: A Biography. Set in 1399, it's heavily underwired by events surrounding Henry Bolingbroke's usurpation of Richard II. On the whole an appendix, dubbed "The Author's Tale", keeps the Ye Olde London factoids from intruding on the yarn but there are moments, especially when he touches on Medieval customs and eating habits, where the research bubbles to the surface. However, like Hawksmoor and The House of John Dee, it's Ackroyd's judicious use of the more esoteric shards of the capital's past that really fuels the drama. This is, after all, Clerkenwell in the era of the mystery plays; a district inhabited by quack physicians, dung rakers, heretical sects and murderous clerics. (Think Umberto Eco in EC1.)
Clarice, the novel's demonic central force, is a sister of the House of St Mary beset by visions. "Some called her the mad nun ... others revered her as the Blessed Maid of Clerkenwell" but in this "turbulent time of a weak and wretched king" Clarice's prophecies of impending doom strike an ominous chord. Elsewhere in the City, a shadowy group of pre-eminent Londoners, known as Dominus, have long been plotting to dethrone Richard and install Henry. William Exmewe, an Austin Friar and Dominus member, has slowly nurtured a gang of lowly religious dissenters--the foreknown, or predestined ones--to, unknowingly, aid their cause. Believing themselves, as Christ's true followers, to be absolved from all sin, William has persuaded them to wage, essentially, a terrorist campaign to bring on God's day of judgement. The predestined ones will fire five churches, making five wounds upon London, mirroring the five wounds of Christ and the five circles of an ancient Christian symbol. (A mystical five-pointed pentagram was something of a motif in Hawksmoor.) Quite how these schemes (and counter schemes) pan out is best left unspoiled. Ackroyd fans and anyone who savours cunning, intellectually exhilarating mystery tales will not be disappointed. --Travis Elborough --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
--"The Sunday Telegraph"
"A gripping thriller which also happens to be wonderfully full of engaging historical detail and conversation-enhancing words like 'hopharlot.'" --"Literary Review
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"["The Clerkenwell Tales"] is a pacy novel brimming with Ackroyd's imaginative use of scholarship. This is more than a reworking of earlier material, be it Chaucer's or his own. Ackroyd is clearly out to impress, and it's worked." --"The Daily Telegraph
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"Historical fiction of the utmost potency." --"The Daily Mail
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"Ackroyd's 'colour' is so curious, so rich and so variegated that there is something in almost every sentence to sharpen one's sense of late 14th-century London as squirmingly alive--and extremely pungent . . . a cunning little intrigue." --"The Spectator
""Ackroyd's learning is as impressive as his imagination . . . Like Chaucer, Ackroyd sees literature and history as part of the same tradition. --"The Observer
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""The Clerkenwell Tales" is a tour-de-force, full of rich imaginings and strange happenings. It is as finely wrought as an illuminated manuscript." --"The Scotsman
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating historical read,
This review is from: Clerkenwell Tales (Paperback)
The year is 1399. London is rife with rumours of the overthrow of an increasingly unpopular Richard II by Henry Bolingbroke. In the style of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, Peter Ackroyd chronicles the intersecting lives of a wide array of the city's inhabitants caught in this world of dangerous political and religious intrigue.Ackroyd has created a fast-paced, historically-detailed journey down the lanes and alleys of medieval London that is a joy to read. Equally fun - and sometimes a challenge - is negotiating the vocabulary of Medieval English, Anglo-French and variants of Latin! It is also great fun meeting such a wide-ranging cast of London folk. Despite being an immensely enjoyable historical read, The Clerkenwell Tales has shortcomings as a novel. Although described as a 'murder-mystery' there doesn't appear to be much in the way of coherent plot/storyline: indeed, there are three (or more) murders but no sustained mystery or organized investigation into their perpetration. Moreover, due to the large number of characters and short length of this novel, none of the characters is developed in sufficient depth to engage the reader's emotional involvement in their fortunes.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A medieval mystery,
By
This review is from: The Clerkenwell Tales (Hardcover)
Yet again, Ackroyd comes up trumps with an eminentely readable - I'd say, unputdownable - murder mystery tale set in Clerkenwell, by the old River Fleet, London in 1399. Ackroyd uses all his copious historical knowledge to evoke a memorable picture of medieval life, replete with a cast of colourful characters. At times I could almost smell the blood of old Smithfield and see the Fleet. Ackroyd brings together diverse plot threads around Sister Clarice, a nun who seems to have a direct line to God but who is profoundly destabilising to the community. The backdrop to the plot is the demise of Richard II and Bolingbroke's ascent to the throne. Through this is woven apocalyptic sects, Lollards, whores and useless medics. How Ackroyd brings all these characters together in the unpredictable but thrilling denouement is for the reader to find out. Please do read this book - if you're intrigued by the idea of medieval London then savour its recreation here.
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing,
By Jimbo (London) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Clerkenwell Tales (Paperback)
Having read a London: The Biography and The Life & Times of Sir Thomas More, I was looking forward to reading The Clerkenwell Tales. Sadly I was disappointed, as the book largely failed to live up to the sum of its parts. This historical novel delves into the usurpation of King Richard II by Henry Bollingbroke, and Ackroyd puts forward a grand conspiracy theory for the events. The historical detail was superb, and it focuses is slightly skewed more towards ordinary people rather than the politicians and statesmen whom history tends to favour.There were some nice comic touches to the book and the writing rattles along at a nice pace. The characters were by and large well drawn - especially the comic characters. One also felt secure with the detail in the book - often historical fiction plays hard and fast with facts to create a gripping storyline, but Ackroyd's reputation, and the footnotes made me feel like I was being guided by a safe pair of hands. The book rotated through a number of voices, and it is here where the problems with the book start. Ackroyd fails to build up tension because one does not really feel sympathy or start rooting for one particular character. There is a collegiate nature to the way that the investigation into the conspiracy progresses, which tends to blunt much of the dramatic tension and the way that it is built up. The book works as a series of set-pieces, but doesn't really knit together terribly well. It comes across as quaint rather than dark and brooding, which was presumably the intended effect. This is a disappointing book. Ackroyd is a superb historian, and that comes across clearly in the book. However, his dramatic skills perhaps need honing. If his next novel looks interesting, I would be tempted to give it a try...
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