Long heralded as a city treasure herself, expert "mudlarker" Lara Maiklem is uniquely trained in the art of seeking. Tirelessly trekking across miles of the Thames' muddy shores, where others only see the detritus of city life, Maiklem unearths evidence of England's captivating, if sometimes murky, history--with some objects dating back to 43 AD, when London was but an outpost of the Roman Empire. From medieval mail worn by warriors on English battlefields...

In Thames: the Biography, Ackroyd writes about connections between the Thames and such historical figures as Julius Caesar and Henry VIII, and offers memorable portraits of the ordinary men and women who depend on the river for their livelihoods. He visits all the towns and villages along the river, from Oxfordshire to London, and describes the magnificent royal residences, as well as the bridges and docks, locks and weirs, found along its 215-mile...

"The crowds at the Tower of London love nothing better than watching an execution. Preferably while eating a pie. Not Moss. She'll never get used to beheadings, no matter what Pa says. She watches the river as it flows past and longs to escape. Salter lives on the river. Using his wits and his boat, he believes that life is mostly about staying alive, and if that means stealing -- well, that's life! But danger is lurking on the riverbank, and its...