I read it. It's very informative. Whoopie. ( )

I read this before going to London and have also recommended it to many people. I love Rutherfurd, he's great. He does use the word "estuary" kind of a lot! ( )

I’ve been a fan of Rutherfurd’s since reading his debut novel, “Sarum”. “London” remains my favorite, possibly because of my great fondness for that city but also because of the bang-up job Rutherfurd does bringing it to life. He starts at the beginning—the end of the last Ice Age—and goes full-tilt from there on. Following the fortunes of six families, the story winds through the Roman occupation to the days of Chaucer, the Globe Theatre, Dickens, and beyond. The pace is fast, characters come and go a little quickly, but overall this is a satisfying read that will sweep you away into the heart and soul of a fascinating city. ( )

Typical Rutherfurd historical fiction, with London as the subject. Very similar in style to much of Michener's work. ( )

I had started this book several years ago, got halfway through and then put it down. I picked it up again for the flight back to Australia, thinking that 1300 pages would probably keep me going and I am pleased to say it did. It is perfect airline reading - not too challenging, but still compelling so you want to keep going.

The difficulty with this type of book (which, I believe Edward Rutherford excels at) is that no story or character is ever really examined in depth - except one. London. London is the true hero of this book and all of the other people, personalities and families are merely bystanders. They provide colour and interest, enhancing the history and development of the city over the ages. Rutherford never lets a story stop abruptly - there is always some kind of closure for characters, even if the next section is set 200 years after, but you learn very quickly to let go of characters so you can move on.

Probably the biggest lessons I learnt from this book - which were things I already knew? How divisive and destructive religion has been over the years, how fortunes rise and fall, how short life is, and how minute that life is in the context of surrounding history. It was a fascinating read. ( )