Cover Image: Mudlarking

Mudlarking

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Member Reviews

I loved this book and it was so much more than I expected. In my dreams I have always wanted to be a mudlarker, and find some treasure, not valuable treasure but interesting. Well nowadays I would not be unable to meet the demands of mudlarking but this book took me to the places I could only dream of going, it gave me so much information and background to what mudlarking means. I also enjoyed the many historical bits that made the whole thing make sense. The author had such a passion and fascination for the subject, I learnt so much whilst joining her on this adventure, things that I didn't know like the Crow Stone. I might not be able to mudlark but I can enjoy a stroll along the Thames and now I can see it through different eyes. Anyone with an interest in London will enjoy this book.

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Really interesting, slow at parts though but I can't say I didn't enjoy this, would have liked to have found out more about areas but this was something to enjoy between books for me and would recommend if you like history.

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A fascinating account of Lara's finds on the foreshore of the Thames. Very interesting historical information but I was expecting more photos of the finds - there are none. You can however find photos on her instagram feed which is great. The writing is captivating and I would recommend to anyone interested in London's history.

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Thank you to both the puclisher and to NetGalley for the ARC of this title.

I found this an absolute treasure-trove of information and fasciation. We all love a good treasure-hunt; imagine doing this on the Thames, finding old shoes and imagining who wore them, or hat pins, or bottles. Lara's passion for mudlarking and her knowledgeable experience are contagious. She writes in a clear voice, providing information along with her anecdotes, as well as a bit of autobiography. A thoroughly enjoyable read, even for those of us who don't read much non-fiction. Our library has already purhased it and I have recommended it on numerous occasions with positive feedback!

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I loved this book and now follow the Instagram .
It’s a true wade through history from the comfort of your armchair. The detail and information given on finds is amazing, the author also takes us on an historical tour of the Thames tide lines without having us set foot in the mud or gloop, the smell of the mud becomes stronger with each description and you can feel it soak your knee pads and fill your imaginary boots without the discomfort . I had never before considered the amount of history hidden from view below and beneath the waterline , from loading boats to drunken falls the historic objects are endless in their sudden reappearance. This is truly brilliant.

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Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing and NetGalley for the Advance Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.

I read an excerpt of this a few months back and was chomping at the bit to read the full book. This is one of those books you see everyone else hyping and feel nothing but blessed joy and peace that other people are enjoying it.

This book is about Mudlarking - a hobby which has some similarities to metal detecting, but is far less disruptive to the environment. Mudlarkers hang out around the foreshore of a river or estuary and search for objects that have been brought to the surface by the tidal ebbs and flows. This book focuses particularly on Mudlarking around the author's preferred haunts on the River Thames.

Maiklem's enthusiasm and joy in the treasures she discovers shines through the pages and through years of experience, she has become hugely knowledgeable about the items she finds.

This book is part treasure hunting, part archaeology and part social history and I thought it was great how she enjoyed the simple objects she found just as much as the more exotic finds. Whether your reading about the discovery of a simple pin or a Roman coin, this is one of those books that makes you want to go and do the things you are reading about.

It also helps that Maiklem is a jolly good writer who brings the locations she frequents to life with evocative and expertly observed descriptions. The inclusion of maps and interesting historical asides also help to flesh out the past and present of the Thames landscape, and the perspective from an 'insider' in the rather mysterious and closed world of Mudlarking adds to the sense of adventure.

Just a all round stonker of a book. I fail to see how anyone couldn't find it utterly fascinating no matter how new the subject matter might be to them.

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One of the best books I’ve read this year. It is full of fascinating historical detail supplied in a unique way as the author spends much time searching the River Thames at London for artefacts large and small. She wears her historical expertise lightly and writes in a lively fashion. I loved this book. Five stars

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An absolutely fascinating read following Lara's life as a mudlark around the river Thames. It's stuffed full of interesting facts, history, anecdotes and tales which are interwoven with the living thing which is the Thames. I found the book easy to read as well as being very interesting. Would recommend.

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As a new mudlarker, joining in groups run under approved programs, looking over top layers of bones and pipe stems and pottery, I was delighted to read this book. Lara Maiklem shares her obsession for searching the tidal foreshore of the Thames, hunting for bits of history left behind by the river. Stuffed full of London history, Mudlarking will be of great interest to the armchair historian, the amateur archeologist and those who want to join in the hunt as well! Maiklem is generous to the people she meets by the Thames edge, and her genuine love of this pastime comes through clearly.

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This is a book to savor, to read and re-read, to search for more details, to follow with a map, ideally(I know I would love to!!) to follow the author's steps yourself! Finishing it made me sad, as I wanted to keep reading :)

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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.

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Thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury for my copy of this book.
A very readable book about what you can find on the Thames foreshore. Some great historical information. I'd have liked to have known a bit more about the author - there were glimpses into her childhood and so on, but I'd have liked to have read more, such as how she got into mudlarking, where she learned how to research and store the items, and why she likes to keep them. It's a very niche hobby but actually quite fascinating to read about.

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Thank you for the opportunity to read 'Mudlarking'.

I was fascinated by this book and loved the author's explanations of the history of the objects she has found in The Thames. I live a street away from the river and would be so thrilled to discover my own treasures - Weil's disease is a bit of a worry though. I enjoyed learning about the river itself and how it changes over a day, a year, a lifetime.

I have told so many people about Lara Malklem's wonderful book and am now following her on Instagram. Definitely recommend!

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'Mudlarking' is a fascinating and beautiful read. The hobby of mudlarking is so interesting and Maiklem writes about it with so much passion and enthusiasm that it's impossible to not be swept away. The finds show a varied history of London and its people and has made me want to read more accounts of mudlarkers to see what they've found. The writing is wonderful, flowing as smoothly and rhythmically as the Thames itself. A joy to read.

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Maiklem never lost her childlike curiousity of discovering other people's lost junk. Throughout the book she talks about her experiences digging around in the river bed with contagious joy. Every lost treasure she finds from the Thames creates a gem in her memory. Some of the treasure she finds has monetary value and some of that treasure is rich in historical value.

Maiklem consults experts as she explores the history of her treasures. Each item has a unique history. There is the story of the type face that was tossed in to the river by the creator who was trying to stop his business partner from getting his hands on it. The title of the book is written using those very font tiles on the front cover of the book. Lost rings with personal engravings. Soldier’s lost belongings from different eras of military service. So many shoes. All of the treasures found by the careful searching eyes of Lara Maiklem and her mysterious Mudlarking colleagues.

Maiklem wraps up the city’s history in her own personal history. This gives the book a gentle relatability that makes you want to don a pair of sturdy boots and climb down an algae covered set of step to begin to scour a silt covered river bank.

I really did love this book. I grew up in London not far from the Thames and as I read I began to feel greedy pangs for more and more glimpses of the past.

Mudlarking is perfect for anyone with an interest in the history of London. It would be a great gift for anyone who, like me, spent their childhood dreaming of becoming an archaeologist. I would wrap it up as Christmas gift for everyone I know.

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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.

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A fascinating look at the finds found in the mud of the Thames foreshore by mudlarker and historian Lara Maiklem.

Most of us like the the thought of buried treasure and probably have done from childhood onwards. In this memoir of the life and finds of a London mudlark, we discover the history of London from the everyday items found on the foreshore of the river Thames throughout the ages. Items thrown away or lost inadvertently by the inhabitants and visitors to London.

From early Roman pottery to ancient coinage, hairpins, shoe buckles, old typeface, old bottles, clay pipes and ancient artefacts.

All swept up in the flowing tidal waters of London’s river, its final destination the muddy shores. Lara Maiklem takes us on her journeys from point to point along the river, using often perilous and sometimes ancient tunnels to reach the parts of the shore that are accessible.

I found this book absolutely fascinating and wanted to read much more when I’d finished it. From the minute I discovered their were such things as Mudlarks, I’ve followed a few accounts on social media and marvelled at their finds.

Highly recommended

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Review of whole book:
Began 8th July 2019.
Finished 5th August 2019.

What a joy; a pure delight.

This is a book of surprising value and lasting worth.

So wonderfully crafted and written, it covers the range of this peculiar pastime along the Thames from West to East. That is from Tidal Head to Estuary.

You immediately feel comfortable with this author in her hobby, obsession and delight for Mudlarking.
With wit and an open writing style, she opens up her world in a way that you can feel her passion, share her enthusiasm and marvel in her imaginations.
Here without prompting yawns or repetition Lara speaks of each area of the river bank she visits. Her finds and the history of that location are detailed and shared. She is an honest commentator, a well researched historical narrator and a person who shares fully of herself.

It is a real pleasure to read. In all these endeavours and historical asides she reveals more of herself and her journey into collecting things the river offers.
I found myself feeling that although Mudlarking would perhaps not be for me, I recognised its charms and if I was to don a pair of wellies it would be to spend sometime watching Lara at work and sharing at firsthand the all consuming love she has for this activity.
What makes this book so special is Lara’s writing and insights. She has that wonderful ability to let her mind wander, way beyond the present, and we follow in her imagination the provenance of her finds. Making up scenarios for how the objects came to be in the river; they have been preserved by the mud and spotted on the foreshore.
I feel my knowledge of the history of London has been deepened and enlarged by her comments on these objects, the riverside locations and ultimately the Thames itself.
I have always enjoyed spending time on the river and those journeys have enhanced my experience in visits to the capital. Now in this one book about a historical pastime I have received a fresh insight.

This is one of the best non-fiction books I have read in a long time. I am amazed it is Lara’s first move to becoming a published author. I’m sure it was a hard slog and kept her from those hours of solitude and peace beside her beloved river. Her efforts are well received and she can be so proud of her disciplined writing and research. Her approach sustained my interest throughout the journey along the river and I would recommend this book without reservation to all.

Previously: [please read my earlier review below. I stand by every word now that I have read the whole book].

Sampler:

I have only had the opportunity to read a taster - Chapter 7 - I believe London Bridge.

It is a glimpse into an activity I have never really given much thought to before. I have never been into metal-detecting but since childhood who has not enjoyed beachcombing, rockpooling and pond dipping? Mudlarking is an adult version of this sense of treasure hunting ironically named after a mud lark - ‘A mudlark is someone who scavenges in river mud for items of value, a term used especially to describe those who scavenged this way in London during the late 18th and 19th centuries.’
This is a wonderful idea since modern day scavenging isn’t for coal, food or items just washed into the river but a history lesson and more akin to river archaeology.

This book has something of an advantage in that it is written by someone passionate about the practice of mudlarking and curious enough to dig deeper than the mud of the river Thames. By that I mean Lara Maiklem brings both the search and the objects alive through her descriptive language and interest in history. Add to that an active imagination she takes the reader back to Roman times, Frost Fairs on the frozen river or the flames of The Great Fire of London.

Lara speaks also of moment of the find. The care and preservation of artefacts. The best light and intensity of the search and how without that moments scan, hesitation, acquired skills objects might forever remain undiscovered or be shattered by one’s next step.

I still have little interest in metal-detecting but the sense of being so close to the soul of the river, teasing out its bounty by effort and a good eye and reconnecting the present with the past has a value beyond the items themselves.

A good cook book sends you to the supermarket and the kitchen. A rambling tale gets you lacing your boots and out in the countryside. Lara’s delightful book will do the same. Rekindle our childhood memories, reconnect us with a sense of place and time. See value in everyday things and detest the polluting waste of plastic. Over and above everything, this chapter has given me a desire to read this book and appreciate the history of London by the items lost, captured in silt and revealed at low tide. Lara’s enthusiasm has enable my creaking knees and stiff back to get down on all fours and take a worm eyed view of London’s rich mud, sand and shingle. I was with the author as she delved, deduced and discovered her priceless treasures.
Reading is often about escape, entertainment and enlightenment Mudlarking brought me all three.

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Mudlarking is not a topic I know anything about and my knowledge of the geography and history of the Thames is patchy at best. Fortunately, prior knowledge isn't necessary to enjoy this book.

This isn't forensic study of the art of mudlarking nor is it a dry historical non-fiction. The focus on the daily lives of the people who have lived & worked on or near the Thames for centuries and the changes to the river & life over that time make it feel like a biography of the Thames - a living thing with an enormous supporting cast from throughout the ages. It is also partly a memoir with events in the author's life connecting to her time spent with the river is just as interesting and engaging as the more historical aspects.

It is an easy, enjoyable read with lyrical, evocative language. You can feel the wind, hear the water and the boats and the people, taste seaweed and hints of salt from the North Sea, and smell the scents of the river (both good and bad).

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I loved reading this account of a little understood pastime, with its history of London and personal recollections told through objects found on the banks of the Thames.

In 1929 the Member of Parliament John Burns famously described the river as: “ The St Lawrence is water, the Mississippi is muddy water, but the Thames is liquid history ”. With 2,000 years of human possessions being lost to the Thames there are plenty of artifacts to uncover each with its own story to tell.

Here Lara Maiklem describes releasing bottles, pins, knives and even a deceased's ashes, from their liquid incarceration; each piece treated with dignity and many with a story to tell.

Part memoir; part mudlarking manual; weaving the history and personal insights of the river which has shaped the world's greatest city, this book is destined to become the seminal book on one aspect of the Thames, its foreshore.

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