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Summary: Worth Every Page & Every Word
Review: This book is wonderful. Full of all kinds of historical detail, warmth and humor, this book reads beautifully. I'm a fast reader and it took me probably 30 hours of reading to get through this book, as it's very long. It was worth every second.
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Summary: The best novel I have ever read
Review: I can say with all clarity that this was the best novel that I have ever read. As someone deeply interested with the history of England, I purchased this book based on the title having not read his other works. What I found was a story or stories that held my interest throughout the length of book.Writen in the style of Michener with individual stories with each chapter that are interwoven throughout, the real character of the book is the city itself and how it evolves over time. With the best stories coming during the time of the Middle Ages, Rutherford brings forth characters that are so real you find yourself actually rooting for some and hating the others. While other reviewers were somewhat critical of his depth of caring about this subject versus Sarum, I felt the other way as Sarum did not hold my attention nearly as well, although still a good read. This book is highly recommended
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Summary: London
Review: Edward Rutherfurd is my favorite author. I just love the way he interweaves history with such interesting, fictional characters.
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Summary: London is History Learned the Fun Way
Review: London by Edward Rutherfurd is a work of historical fiction. Most impressive, is how much factual history one can learn when reading this book. It's so subliminal that you don't realize exactly how much you've learned by the time you've finished reading the 836 pages. Perhaps that's why I enjoyed reading the book so much. London is the story of the evolution of the titled city. It begins before the time of Roman occupation, when the Celts ruled the land, and ends in 1997. London grows from an abandoned outpost, to a medieval marketplace, to the metropolis it is today. Along the way you follow the rise and fall of a few fictitious families: The Bulls with their stubbornness, the Duckets/Doggets with the occasional flash of white in their hair and webbed fingers, the Silversleeves most noted for their rather long nose, the Barnikels whose rich Viking ancestry remains with them and the Flemings who always seem to know how to go with the flow. Rutherfurd uses these five families as the cornerstone of his novel, as he follows their descendants from generation to generation, through richer and poorer, through the highs and the lows. I'm quite thankful that Rutherfurd included a genealogy. Keeping track of people over 2000 years can get a bit confusing, but this doesn't happen with London. A reference to an ancestor or a suggestion of a family trait is subtly woven in to keep you on track. It is through the eyes of these families that Rutherfurd shows us the evolution of London. We are transported to the times of the Romans with their grand architecture and organization. We learn how the Battle of Hastings in 1066 changed their lives, we are shown how the break from the Roman church tore the city apart, and how a civil war, outbreak of plague, and a disastrous fire can reshape a city. And who can forget the age of Gloriana? And as we read about each event, we come across actual people, places, and turning stones, which is where the learning part comes in. It was almost like reading a textbook about the history of England, but more effective because it was related to those five families. As a true dork to the core, I fell in love with this book. Each time I would get to a new section I felt that the many hours of reading and studying had truly paid off. Since I'm a history major, whenever I would come across a familiar name, time period or event I would secretly smile to myself and see just how accurate Rutherfurd would be. He did not leave me disappointed. Instead, after 836 pages, I wanted more. Rutherfurd has written two more novels set in England and one in Russia. These books are at the top of my wishlist. For fans of historical fiction who are longing for a book in this genre that doesn't feature a Fabio prototype on the cover and oozing with drippy romance, I strongly recommend London. It will not leave you disappointed either.
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Summary: The History of London in a Novel
Review: One glance at this book might put you off reading it. London is a long book, but a very rewarding read. Instead of giving the reader a dull history of the city, Edward Rutherfurd tells the story of several families through the centuries and sets their stories against the history of the city. It starts with the beginnings of a settlement and traces the growth of London through to modern times. Rutherfurd makes you care about the families so that you want to know what happens to each successive generation. This is the first Edward Rutherfurd book I've read and I can't wait to read more.
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Summary: Great Stories that flow from 54 B.C. to 1997
Review: The hardcover is close to 830 pages so this took me a while to finish. Each story is quite fascinating. I happened to see the movie LION IN THE WINTER with Katherine Hepburn & a very young Anthony Hopkins during the middle of the book. I would highly recommend that because it takes you to that period. I found some of the stories better than others but overall it was quite an informative novel that intermingled a lot of London history. I've been visiting London a lot lately so it makes it more interesting to me when I go by Southwark, Buckingham Palace, Fortnum & Mason, St. Pauls Cathedral and/or see specific street names and realize some of the British history. The City of London has truly turned into quite a melting pot.
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Summary: Buy it, it is great read and a great price too.
Review: Like the author's other books, this is a journey through time in a particular location -- in this case, London. I have always thought London to be a depressing and unlovely place but this book gave me a much greater appreciation of the place, even a fondness and an urge to re-visit it(which I have resisted!). The book is easy to read, being made up of distinct stories involving distinct families and characters. It is hard to put down once you get into it. I loved it.
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Summary: Great read...especially if you've been there
Review: Excellent book. Yes, you can probably guess many of the elements (corrupt clergy, greedy merchants, whoremongering, capital punishment, plague, filth - what a great time to be alive!). But the chapters (each of which are separate stories, tracing family members through the centuries) are very skillfully crafted. I also enjoyed the way the author incorporated major historical events into the fiction. While some history buffs may scoff at mixing history with fictional characters, I thought the author did a great job of delineating between the two. One caveat, however. The author weaves many landmarks and names from modern-day London into the plots, thereby explaining their historical origins. If you are not familiar with the city, these references could become annoying background noise. But if you have been to London, these tidbits add a great deal to the enjoyment of the work.
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Summary: Opening The Windows of History
Review: This epic work really does bring history alive in your as Rutherford moves from chapter to chapter effortlessly tracing the history of the remarkable city London and 5 remarkable families .There is not a dull moment and this should really awaken any interest you may have in history
Incredible men and unforgettable ,often extremely sensual, women enliven the pages of this work as you gain more knowledge about England and in the last chapter the message of the book is described succinctly .The rich tapestry of different people that formed the English : Celts,Romans,Angles,Saxons,Jutes,Danes,Normans ,Flemish,German and Italian merchants , French Huguenots and in more recent times the Irish and Jewish communities in London and other big cities
As an archaeology Professor puts it at the end of the book:
"So when we dig deep into the earth under our feet ,and fall all that is left of that man or woman , I try to remember that what I am seeing and handling is a huge and endless compression of lives .and sometimes in our work here , I feel as if we've somehow entered that layer of compressed time ,prised open that life , a single day even , with its morning , and evening , and its blue sky and its horizon.We've opened just one of the millions and millions of windows hidden in the ground'
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Summary: London
Review: Edward Rutherford's "London" is a monumental epic that spans a two milleniums in one of Englands oldest and exciting places: London. From the Invasion of the Romans to the Glorious Revolution to the present day, Rutherford manages to trace important historical events by followimg several London families throughout the ages. The scence changes from chapter to chapter, never letting the reader have a dull moment. Although the chapters (and the book) are quite long, you will be captivated at the incredible tales and characters that you find. These tales of adventure, intrigue, murder and love are all realistic and yet at the same time extraordinary as are the characters. Some, like the Silversleeves, you will learn to revile and others,like the Duckets, you will learn to love and root for. I recommend this book to anyone who likes learning about history and likes a riviting story at the same time.
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