London: The Novel: Amazon.co.uk: Edward Rutherfurd: Books

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Product Description

London has perhaps the most remarkable history of any city in the world. Now, its story has a unique voice. In this epic novel, Edward Rutherfurd takes the reader on a magnificent journey across sixteen centuries from the days of the Romans to the Victorian engineers of Tower Bridge and the era of Dockland development today. Through the lives and adventures of his colourful cast of characters, he brings all the richness of London's past unforgettably to life. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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A wonderful, epic story that tells the history of the greatest city in the world, from Roman times to the present day. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Customer Reviews

50 Reviews

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

Average Customer Review

4.6 out of 5 stars (50 customer reviews)

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29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book about a great city, 22 Mar 2003

By	Darren Simons (Middlesex, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: London (Paperback)

This was the first Edward Rutherfurd book I read and I was initially apprehensive at the vast number of pages it contain - over 1300 in fact! The book describes itself as a fictional biopic of London and that's exactly what it is, but the way in which it's done is quite superb, far better than I'd expected, and very much the formula used by Rutherfurd for his other books of different places.

At the front of the book, a family tree is shown detailing generations paths of five or six families over the path of the two thousand years covered by the book and the way in which they are related at various times (this in itself made me wonder what sort of book this would be as it looked as if the book would be remarkably difficult to follow).

The book is structured as a number of relatively short stories at a specific period of time, such as when the Tower of London is built, the Fire of London, The Globe theatre and Shakespeare, The Blitz and many others. In each of these chapters you are introduced to a new set of characters who invariably inherit some of their ancestor's attributes, such as a white streak of hair or webbed hands. You also see the rivalries and hatred shared by these families, covering all classes in the English system at the time of each chapter.

The book is superbly researched and incredibly well written, and I found that I'd actually got through the book far quicker than I'd expected without at any time feeling I was reading something equivalent to War and Peace. This is a definite recommendation from me, particularly if you're interested in the history of London and keen to read about it in a relatively easy manner.

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16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply astounding!, 6 Feb 2004

By	SecretSweets (Caxias, Portugal) - See all my reviews

This review is from: London (Paperback)

This is the first of three Rutherfurd books that I recently purchased from Amazon. It is undoubtedly a BIG book - 1229 pages! But once you get stuck, in the pages literally fly off your fingers. Its is a historical novel packed with well researched facts and details that will give you an insight into what was and is London. In the middle of all this, the author manages to deliver the mystery, intruige, passion and emotions that we expect of a novel. Striking this beautiful balance between fact and "fiction" is a feat that not many authors can achieve.

So what is London? I believe Mr Rutherfurd answers this question when begins his preface with the assertion - "London is, first and foremost, a novel". After reading this novel I dare say he was actually refering to the City!

Read it even if you think it might take you the good part of this year to get to the last page. You will not regret it and you might - like me - consider reading it a second time!

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16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars London, Edward Rutherfurd, 24 Nov 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: London (Paperback)

Although initially daunted by the sheer visible volume of the book, I was continually fascinated by the history and knowledge it imparted. Edward Rutherfurd obviously researches his subject matter in enormously great detail. I rode the rises and pitfalls of the fortunes of all the families and characters involved, while learning even more historical information about my country and its capital, its language and evolution. I was delighted to see that the family that started the whole story, the group with the white flash of hair and webbed hands, were also the ones to conclude it.

I have yet to read Russka and Sarum, but shall now make it an aim of mine.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Read. Factual, Fiction at it's best
This book gives the whole cronological history of London via a series of interlinked (sometimes only just) short stories about people. Read more

Published 9 days ago by Mongoose

5.0 out of 5 stars London - Fantastic read
This is a great book - if you are interested in family history and the city of London you will really enjoy this book. Read more

Published 21 days ago by P. Holland

5.0 out of 5 stars London one of the greatest cities to live
I read this book in 2000 and read it again in 2008 when I moved to London. Rutherfurd has made an excellent research of history facts to present how London has become one of the... Read more

Published 1 month ago by C. Lopez Ferreira

2.0 out of 5 stars Condition of book

Not very impressed with the condition of the book describred a s"good".

It looks old, worn, and with yellowing pages

Published 1 month ago by Mr. E. T. Hagerty

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
This is a very good read. As usual it traces 5 families throughout the ages detailing lots of events that were not taught when I was at school. Read more

Published 2 months ago by Mrs. P. Langley

5.0 out of 5 stars Edward Rutherfurd
Having read many years ago his masterpiece "Sarum" from the library, I bought the new paper back copy for my wife and at the same time "Russka" and "Dublin". Read more

Published 2 months ago by D. Leoni

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating read
This book is well written and fascinating. All sorts of interesting facts are given about London and how it came into existence. Read more

Published 3 months ago by Mr. Andrew C. Jesney

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent historical read.
'London' is a fascinating novel based on true historical fact. It is a very good,well researched and absorbing read. The best novel of its kind I have ever read. Read more

Published 6 months ago by G. G. Rushton

5.0 out of 5 stars EDIE
A great book that makes history entertaining and vibrant. Having been educated 50 years ago in a system that concentrated on the three "r"s, history has never been one of my... Read more

Published 6 months ago by EDIE

5.0 out of 5 stars London
Being a 'Londoner' it is a must read. A great story which is well researched and moves through generations at an interesting pace. Read more

Published 9 months ago by K. J. Rumsey

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	79% buy the item featured on this page: London: The Novel 4.6 out of 5 stars (50)
	13% buy New York 4.4 out of 5 stars (14) �9.49
	5% buy Sarum 4.3 out of 5 stars (27) �6.96
	2% buy Dublin 4.3 out of 5 stars (12) �5.85

London: The Novel (Paperback)

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