This book sounds fascinating from the extract. I didn't realise the River Thames has tides and I'd never heard of mudlarking before. Will definitely be purchasing a copy of this book to find out more!

I'm a London girl, no matter where in the world I live. I believe the Thames runs through the lives of the people born or living near it, just as it runs through the City. The idea that it holds the wealth of knowledge and history of the people it has touched and been seen by over the centuries is fascinating to me. Having followed the London Mudlark on social media for several years I was eager to read her book. This exert whet my appetite that I ran out and bought the full book.
Sure I knew i'd love the book, but thank you for letting me try before I bought.

Grab this book, the whole book, for a weekend or holiday read then take a stroll along a river near you and see what history washes up.

Lara Maiklem is a mudlark. That means she spends hours of her spare time crawling about in mud beside the Thames, getting cold and wet, in the hunt for treasure. Not gold or jewels but everyday items which the river gives up. It’s like being a detectorist only filthier and more dangerous. (There are mudlarks who use metal detectors, but you need a special licence for it.) Getting covered in mud and then bearing home a rucksack full of dirty, smelly items is not something which appeals to me, but I totally get the thrill of holding in your hand a Tudor shoe or even a humble clay pipe and feeling a connection to the unknown person who lost the item centuries ago.

The book is mainly about three things. 1) Personal history: how and why I became a mudlark. 2) The history of the Thames: its tides, bridges, wharves, pubs, steps, embankments, shipping. 3) How to be a mudlark and what to look for. That’s not how Maiklem has organised the book. She takes each stretch of the Thames in turn e.g. Vauxhall, Blackfriars, Bankside, then writes about what she finds there, other mudlarks she meets and the history of that particular part of the river. I could have done with a large map in front of me to trace all these journeys.

I was able to get a ‘read now’ extract from NetGalley for this Bloomsbury book. Either they sent me the whole thing or it’s a very long book, because it took me ages to read. I did find it fascinating, although I thought the history and the possible stories behind the found objects more interesting than the autobiographical elements. I like the way each section begins with a quotation from an earlier work (e.g. Mayhew) about mudlarks of the past. This would be a very useful addition to the library of anyone interested in the Thames and London.

I would like to thank netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Not what I was expecting, it's rather rambling.

A fascinating exploration of the history that can be found on the Thames foreshore by those who get down and look for it (and have the proper license and permits). Maiklem mixes the story of her life with historical antidotes about what she finds and why these artifacts are located in the Thames riverbed.

In terms of archaeological digs or even just searching for random items the Thames is probably a very neglected area due to its inaccessibility, but the items mudlark Lara Maiklem has uncovered within the muddy deposits are nothing less than fascinating and the tales they tell even more so. A mudlark is defined as a person who scavenges in the muddy riverbeds at low tide. From fairly modern items discarded or lost by Londoners or tourists to pieces that hark back to the days of old, this is a compelling and highly interesting read.

I haven't ever seen a book such as this before and that makes this all the more of a unique experience. I must admit that despite having been to London a few times and enjoyed myself I find big cities rather exhausting given I am a country girl at heart. That said, they offer a prime hunting ground for items that could give valuable insight into the social and urban history of an area populated for centuries and founded by the Romans in 43 AD.

Overall, it's a well written and constructed work of non-fiction and through it's many varied layers never fails to hold your interest. I tend to have a big appreciation for books that manage to be both informative and entertaining, but sadly they are few and far between; Mudlarking is one of those rare and special gifts. The author has extensive knowledge of the geography of London over the centuries and the Thames tides and her enthusiasm for her subject matter is infectious.

I won't spoil it, but some of her finds were truly momentous and no doubt hastened her return to the dirty, muddy river beds she scans so patiently. Organised into chapters based on location, readers take a steady meander through items that date back to the Roman fortification of Londinium as it was then known. A truly captivating and majestic read. Many thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing for an ARC.

I loved the excerpt of Mudlark and can not wait to read the full book when it comes out. I found it so well-written--it was like I was there next to the author, sharing in the excitement of seeking and finding mudbound treasures.

In the chapter I read, Maiklem quickly sets the framework for the joys and frustrations of mudlarking. She is a respectful wanderer and seeker and generous in sharing her knowledge of the incredible variety of items the river Thames offers up to her.

So apparently I was just given and chapter sample to review, so there really isn't much to say about it. I liked it, and will probably read the entire book at some point.

I loved this book. I’ve seen a few tv shows about finds on the banks of the Thames and it’s fascinating. So many artefacts and each with a story to tell. Mudlarking is a lively and engaging account which gives real insight into the complexity and compulsion of this subject.

I learned a great deal. For starters, I knew a permit was required, but had no idea it was so difficult to obtain. And the vagaries around locations and the tides was also interesting. But best of all are the stories about the finds. Lara Maiklem manages to bring the countryside to life along with a bit of background about how the interest arose. There’s so much detail and it’s packed with snippets like the origin of the word codswallop. This is a really interesting read. It’s about people, the past, social history and how it reverberates today.

My thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.

*excerpt read only*

Mudlarking is a brand new concept to me. It wasn’t until I read a novel recently set in Victorian England that I had even heard the term.
What I gleaned from this excerpt was the importance of observation. Simply slowing down and taking a look around.

Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this excerpt prior to publication for my honest review.

I didn't realize this was an extract when I downloaded it. I found the topic engaging and would have happily kept reading.

This ARC has a main issues: it's only an extract and it makes you crave to read the entire book.
I found what I read fascinating and well researched.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

What a fascinating book on a fascinating topic. I can't wait to read the full thing (and to go mudlarking!)

Such a beautiful story but so little.. I want the full book as soon as possible. Its a beautiful amalgamation of history and imagination. And Lara Maiklem does a beautiful work of it. Can't wait to read more.

This sampler has ignited eager anticipation of the full length book being published. It is written in clear language and in such a way as to engage your interest from the very beginning. There is so much interesting information on each page that you cannot help but drop everything else in order to keep turning pages. Even in this short extract I learned so much about the shoreline of the Thames and it’s history. My order for this book will be in well ahead of it’s publication date.

I started this sampler intending to read a few pages in between household chores but I couldn’t put it down and ended up finishing it in one go!

It combined treasure-finding with history, science and religion. I hadn’t realised there was such an art to mudlarking, or that there are so many historical items which could be found. I love learning about history from the perspective of ordinary people and Lara was very good at describing the origin of the pieces she found.

I especially loved the paragraph about Roman hair pins and I didn’t know ecclesiastical tokens, scabbard chapes or jettons ever existed! Such a well written chapter and I learned so much in just this sampler. I will definitely be buying this book when it is published in August.

Thanks for the extract - I need more!

This is the kind of thing that helps people fall in love with local history, small objects that provide a magic portal to the past. Mundane everyday objects that we all use and turn up centuries later in the mud. The author gives poetry to the process of mudlarking and speculating about finds. It's like Bagpuss in wellies!

I'm really looking forward to the full book.

On the strength of this extract, anyone with an interest in reclaiming history from the very ground we inhabit, will be fascinated by Maiklem's discoveries. Will be seeking out the full length book!

I am SO annoyed that this is only excerpt! So annoyed that I pre-ordered it immediately. This will clearly be an absolutely fascinating book and I was fascinated reading about all the treasures the author found. Hurry up August!