The Thames

I found this book an uneven effort, addressing very different topics, with these topics at times only tenuously connected to the great English river. It is more a book of essays on London or broader English social history--with the notion of the Thames included in all, whether needed or not. For example, the exploits of London's red mayor, Ken Livingstone, do not strike me as being central to the book's title. Some of the chapters are very good at explaining some interesting aspect or another of the history of England, like the infamous prison hulks once located on the Thames, flood control, and fine art as inspired by the ancient river. Professor Schneer is not a fan of the modern Conservative party and this bias is reflected in the final chapters.

Jonathan Schneer writes in his introduction that there are lots of books on the Thames, but most are either highly specialised (tomes on flood control, environmental concerns, economic impact, etc.) or rather out of date. Schneer's intention with this book was to provide a more general, and more generally accessible, book on what is perhaps one of the most important rivers in history, with an impact that far outweighs it relative length. Schneer points out that most other major rivers (the Mississippi, the Danube, the Yang-tze, the Ganges, etc.) have major impact, but not the kind of dominating presence on their surrounding cultures that the Thames has had on its (perhaps the best comparison would be with the Nile, perhaps the only other river that was central to defining the culture of the lands around it).Schneer begins with the prehistoric and early historic settlements and influence of the Thames, and how it has been seen by Celts and early peoples, Romans, Angles and Saxons, Danes and Jutes, Normans and Middle Englishmen, Renaissance and Reformation people, all the way up to modern times when German bombers used the outline of the river to find London, and modern governments have seen the Thames as the gateway to Europe. Chapters go in a logical, chronological progression, and describe in socio-economic and historical narratives how the culture around the river ebbed and flowed, just as the river would rise and fall. Some seems a bit further afield than discussion of the river might require, but then, this is more of a labour of love for the English culture, of which the river Thames is certainly apart, but in fact the book is geared more toward the understanding of the history and culture itself.The Thames features in art, music and literature - the book contains a generous collection of print reproductions, both black-and-white as well as colour plates of artists such as Turner, Canaletto, Spencer, and more. Handel's Water Music is one of the better-known pieces from the time, inspired by the river, and literature past and present draws from its inspirational depths (Edmund Spenser's 'Sweet Thames, run softly, till I end my song' was used by Ewan McCall as title for his song, 'Sweet Thames, flow softly'; also, author Matthew Kneale uses it for one of his works of fiction).'More generally the Thames's accumulation of meanings over the centuries, its interconnectedness with so much history, has linked it with evolving understandings of the nation and its heritage. Britons identify themselves as heirs to a record through which the river has always run.'This is an interesting, accessible, and well-written general book detailing various strands of English culture with a connection of the river Thames. The writing flows well with a cup of tea.

I thoroughly enjoyed this 'biography' of the Thames and its multiple roles. Descriptions of frost fairs and of swan upping, together with the role the river played in better known historical events were all engaging and interesting.Recounting of tragedies including the 'Great Stink' of 1858 and the impacts of the surge tide in 1953 served as reminders that nature does not always lend herself to the control of man.But most of all, the opportunity to read about the Thames as a primary character rather than as a secondary backdrop to other events made this an enjoyable, and informative, reading experience.Highly recommended to all with an interest in the history, geography and character of the UK.Jennifer Cameron-Smith

I love this river. Was raised by the Mississippi, and the Thames was always a source of joy to me as I walked along its banks for eight years. Nicely written with lots of history and stories I never knew. Arrived in perfect condition.