London

I've read all of Edward Rutherfurd's book, and without a doubt London and Russka are his best works. Although things move along quite quickly, there's more than enough detail to make you feel a part of each of the various time periods covered in his books. If you've ever been to London or ever hope to visit it, you must read this book. The only two negatives I would point out are that 1. There's so much to tell, that Rutherford tends to skip most of the 19th and 20th centuries. 2. You're ultimately left with a feeling of emptyness at the end of the book because it was such an experience reading it, that you don't want it to end. Highly recommended.

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.

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.

This is one of the best books that I have ever read! The tracing of imaginary trees is a well-conceived idea by Rutherfurd, and one that draws the readers further into the book. Interesting twists of fate makes it interesting to compare the newer generations to their ancestors. It was very easy for myself, and I imagine for other readers to easily identify themselves with one of the many lines in the novel. Whether you consider yourself one of the meek Duckets, a noble Bull, or a backstabbing Silversleeves, everyone can identify with the story. This book would make a splendid reading companion to any English history textbook, and though Rutherfurd's intention was to write fiction, I couldn't help but consider it useful in historic knowledge. This could be the only flaw in his writing. For example, it is easy to associate Chaucer as one of the great English authors, but now when I think of his name, I will always remember his good friend, James Bull. It is very hard to remember that James Bull is fictional. Rutherfurd's characters are so memorable, that it is tough to keep in mind that this is all fantasy and it is hard to separate the actual history from the stories.I found myself associating most freely with the Ducket/Doggett line. The trademark white patch of hair and webbings made them especially memorable, but more memorable was their ambition. I also admire the Barnikel's for their practicality, and the Bull's for their tradition. The only characters I seem to despise are the Silversleeves. They always seem to be lazy, or sly, never doing honest work and always reaping the benefits. However, Rutherfurd writes justly and always seems to foil their line by the end of a story.Overall, the book was intense and very hard to put down. Though the stories are broken up chronologically, transitions flowed rather smoothly, and when engrossed in a chapter, the action and plot twists are so well arranged that it is hard to focus on doing anything else.

I'm your basic non-fiction reader and love history books. However, when I got a hold of this novel about London, I decided to give it a try. As an American living in London and a history buff, this Novel is 100% fantastic. In fact, I gave it as a gift to friends of mine.The story is fairly interesting in its own right and compelling enough to capture me although I prefer non-fiction. The history tidbits hold my attention. There are places I recognize throughout the book that I have only seen in their present-day manifestation. Rutherfurd does a great job of letting me imagine how these places looked hundreds of years ago, what their historical significance is and how they became named as they did. All of this woven into a story of fiction is pretty complicated. You have to appreciate how difficult it must have been to pull this off. In my opinion, Rutherford does a marvelous job! A must read for anyone visiting or living in London.