Peter Ackroyd

Franklin Library Peter Ackroyd books

English Music - signed first edition - 1992 

 

Who is Peter Ackroyd?

Peter Ackroyd (born October 5, 1949 in London) is a British author.

Ackroyd won a double first in English at Clare College, Cambridge as an undergraduate and was a Mellon Fellow at Yale University, in the United States. His career started in poetry, including works such as London Lickpenny (1973) and The Diversions of Purley (1987). He later moved into fiction and has become an acclaimed author, including shortlisting for the Booker Prize in 1987. 

 

Ackroyd has always shown a great interest in the city of London and one of his most recent works, London: The Biography, is an extensive and thorough discussion of London through the ages. In 2002 he followed this with the monumental cultural history of England, Albion: The Origins of the English Imagination.

Ackroyd worked at The Spectator magazine between 1973 and 1977 and became joint managing editor in 1978. He was nominated a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1984 and is currently a regular radio broadcaster and book critic. 

English Music

English Music is a literary composition that orchestrates the intricate symphony of England's cultural, historical, and social tapestry through the ages. Ackroyd, known for his masterful storytelling and profound insights into British history and culture, conducts a compelling narrative that resonates with the rhythms of the English soul. With English Music, Ackroyd embarks on a journey through time, tracing the evolution of English society from its ancient roots to its modern manifestations. The narrative of English Music unfolds like a melodic progression, starting with the primal beats of prehistoric Britain. Ackroyd delves into the mystical landscapes of ancient rituals, exploring the myths and legends that have shaped the English psyche. From the mystical realms of Celtic folklore to the Roman conquest and the spread of Christianity, Ackroyd paints a vivid picture of England's formative years.

As the narrative advances, Ackroyd guides the reader through the medieval chants of Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and the haunting ballads of Shakespearean England. With meticulous attention to historical detail, he illuminates the social dynamics, political intrigues, and artistic innovations that defined each era. English Music reaches its crescendo in the tumultuous strains of the Industrial Revolution and the Victorian era. Ackroyd captures the cacophony of progress and upheaval as England grapples with rapid industrialization, urbanization, and social change. Through the lives of poets, novelists, scientists, and social reformers, he explores the tensions between tradition and modernity, nature and progress, faith and reason. Yet, amidst the discordant notes of change, Ackroyd discerns a timeless melody—the enduring spirit of the English people. He celebrates the resilience, creativity, and eccentricity that characterize the English identity, weaving together a tapestry of voices and experiences that resonate across centuries.

In the final movements of English Music, Ackroyd brings the narrative into the 20th and 21st centuries, exploring the echoes of the past in contemporary England. From the swinging '60s to the digital age, he reflects on the challenges and opportunities facing a nation in flux. Through English Music, Peter Ackroyd invites readers to immerse themselves in the symphonic sweep of English history. With lyrical prose and profound insight, he conducts an unforgettable exploration of the melodies and harmonies that compose the soul of England.

 

The following is a list of books by Peter Ackroyd. This list of Peter Ackroyd books is for reference only and please note that not all titles may have been published as leather bound editions.

The Great Fire of London – 1982
The Last Testament of Oscar Wilde – 1983
Hawksmoor - 1985
Chatterton – 1987
Milton in America - 1986
First Light - 1989
English Music – 1992
The House of Doctor Dee – 1993
Dan Leno and the Limehouse Golem – 1994
Milton in America – 1996
Plato Papers, the - 1999
Clerkenwell Tales, the - 2003
Lambs of London, the - 2004
Fall of Troy, the - 2006