“A TOUR DE FORCE . . . London tracks the history of the English capital from the days of the Celts until the present time. . . . Breathtaking.”—The Orlando Sentinel A master of epic historical fiction, Edward Rutherford gives us a sweeping novel of London, a glorious pageant spanning two thousand years. He brings this vibrant city’s long and noble history alive through his saga of ever-shifting … of ever-shifting fortunes, fates, and intrigues of a half-dozen families, from the age of Julius Caesar to the twentieth century. Generation after generation, these families embody the passion, struggle, wealth, and verve of the greatest city in the Old World.
Praise for London
“Remarkable . . . The invasion by Julius Caesar’s legions in 54 B.C. . . . The rise of chivalry and the Crusades . . . The building of the Globe theatre . . . and the coming of the Industrial Revolution. . . . What a delightful way to get the feel of London and of English history. . . . We witness first-hand the lust of Henry VIII. We overhear Geoffrey Chaucer deciding to write The Canterbury Tales. . . . Each episode is a punchy tale made up of bite-size chunks ending in tiny cliffhangers.”—The New York Times
“Hold-your-breath suspense, buccaneering adventure, and passionate tales of love and war.”—The Times (London)
“Fascinating . . . A sprawling epic.”—San Francisco Chronicle
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This is an incredible book. Don’t be put off with it’s size, this is a page turner! The story begins in ancient Celtic times along what will some day be called the Thames. You follow specific families through the history of what becomes London from then all the way to the 20th century. It’s truly an amazing work and I couldn’t put it down.
I read this book decades ago but its influence and information still touch my life to this day. It is a fascinating read, especially for Anglophiles, is very well researched, and very readable, all at the same time. Despite the fact that it is historically accurate, it has all the characteristics of a book written as pure escapism. The people are …
Start from the dawn of time and brings you right up to present day (well give or take 10-15 years) Just an outstanding read.
I am most grateful to Mr. Rutherfurd who initiated my fascination with historical fiction. “London” was my first of many. I am selfishly grateful for his gift with the pen, and looking forward to the upcoming, “CHINA.”
Unnecessarily long
Incredibly boring
This was my first book of his to read. I couldn’t put it down. One of the best historical fiction books and authors I’ve ever read.
I loved it even though a little slow at times. You can just imagine London forming from all the different peoples.
I was completely involved in this book from page one. Wonderful thought-provoking read
Oh my, but I really loved reading this book! This book is one of his best, and one of my favorite books. Words fail me! Do yourself a favor and just read it!
Fascinating history!
No quite as good Saru m or The Pillars of the Earth, but a must
read for all lovers of Great Britain and the English!
Although, it is a fictional book, it gives a great history of London without being dry. I love his books for their great story telling.
Excellently crafted. Based on research which is well-integrated into a multi-layered, multi-generational novel. Audiobook is expertly performed and engaging. Recommended for all mature audiences!
Loved this book. I lived in London years ago so it meant so much to me.
If you can get past the initial 50 pages or so (which is very boring) you will find a lot of great stories of the families (and their traits) that go thru the centuries as history evolves. I enjoyed this book – but did find sometimes the characters (same last names, etc. thru the centuries) could get a little confusing. Still, it was great to …
Well written, well researched, well worth reading!
Anything by Mr. Rutherford is worth reading, if anything just ror pure entertainment. I have read all of his novels. My only regret is that I would like to see Mr. Rutherford write a novel about the American Indians.
A marvelous piece of historical fiction, just like the other Rutherford books!
I have read nearly all of the Rutherford books and have loved them all. My favorite is – maybe – Sarum. It’s hard to decide.