The Thames by Jonathan Schneer
The Thames, England's greatest river-for centuries an aid to trade, a stalwart of national defense, a stage for some of England's greatest historical events, an inspiration to some of England's best poets and artists, a challenge to engineers. Yet while there is a constancy in the history of the river, there is also change. The Thames charts the diverse meanings of the river over the course of millennia, from prehistoric to modern times. From the elephants on the bank of the prehistoric river to Caesar's expeditionary force; from King Alfred's battleships to the signing of Magna Carta; from the river's role in both the coronation and execution of Anne Boleyn to seventeenth-century frost fairs and the first performance of Handel's `Water Music'; from Turner's view of the river as arcadia through its bombardment during the Blitz, The Thames provides an intimate portrait of the waterway at the heart of English history. Blending elegant prose with historical detail, this exceptional book superbly brings to life the river Winston Churchill once vividly described as "a golden thread in the national tapestry."
"Jonathan Schneer guides us along a renowned element of the English landscape with an alert and seasoned eye, surprising us with stories drawn together by this common watery threadFamous spectacles, private reveries, urban designs-from these, he sketches a deeply satisfying survey of centuries, captured through the prism of history lived on and along the River Thames."-Deborah Valenze, Columbia University
"For anyone who wishes to learn of the history of one of the most important rivers in the world, this is the book to turn to. In engaging prose, Jonathan Schneer charts the vital and enriching role the Thames has played in English history."-Peter Stansky, Stanford University
"An excellent topic, and an altogether pleasurable book. The Thames is central to British history, but there is no other book like this on the subject. The Thames is clear, compelling, and frequently lyrical."-James Cronin, Boston University
"For anyone who wishes to learn of the history of one of the most important rivers in the world, this is the book to turn to. In engaging prose, Jonathan Schneer charts the vital and enriching role the Thames has played in English history."-Peter Stansky, Stanford University
"An excellent topic, and an altogether pleasurable book. The Thames is central to British history, but there is no other book like this on the subject. The Thames is clear, compelling, and frequently lyrical."-James Cronin, Boston University
Jonathan Schneer was born in New York City. He has taught at Yale University and is currently professor of modern British history at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. He has written three books about British labor and more recently a cultural history of London at the turn of the twentieth century titled London 1900: The Imperial Metropolis, published by Yale University Press.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780300107869 |
| ISBN 10 | 0300107862 |
| Title | The Thames |
| Author | Jonathan Schneer |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Yale University Press |
| Year published | 2005-05-11 |
| Number of pages | 360 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |