A.C. Cawley (1913-1993) was a professor of English and Medieval English Literature. He graduated from University College London in 1934 before attending Harvard on a Commonwealth Fellowship in 1938. He taught at institutions around the world, from Egypt and Iceland to Australia and the UK. He is a well-known Medievalist, having commentated and edited numerous works, including this one, The Canterbury Tales and The Wakefield Mystery Plays.