Tower of London: 900 Years of English History

Rating:
Summary: A unique sort of guide
Review: If London is (or was until late in the 20th century) the center of the English-speaking world, then the Tower is arguably the historical center of London. The White Tower was begun by William the Conqueror and the place has served as fortress, royal residence, prison for dozens of the famous, arsenal, treasury, royal mint, military garrison, armory, state archives, and repository of the crown jewels. As Deputy Governor, living with his wife in an apartment with carpeting and paneled walls laid over the ancient stone, Mears is uniquely qualified to write this volume and he does a creditable job. The organization is chronological by royal dynasty and the text, while hardly literary, is quite adequate. But it's the photographs that make the book, identifying and showing you nooks and crannies you might have seen but didn't recognize for what they were. Other more private locations, you won't have seen at all, including the residences of many of the Yeoman Warders. A fascinating volume.