Peter Ackroyd's most recent novel is The Clerkenwell Tales, set in Chaucer's London.
Like a bird of biographical prey, Ackroyd identifies his subject in an iconic image of Chaucer addressing the court of Richard II and swoops to investigate -- Iain Finlayson The Times Extensively researched and elegantly written -- Sally Cousins Sunday Telegraph Full, lively and eminently readable -- Laurence Phelan Independent on Sunday Ackroyd's series of short lives bodes well: handy, attractive, well illustrated, useful -- Anne Wroe Sunday Times This elegantly written and nicely judged biography offers a welcome reintroduction to a much-underestimated figure, and gets Ackroyd's new series of Brief Lives off to a promising start Scotsman