Family and Social HistoryMarch 20, 2007 Mrs. L. E. Ford 32 out of 34 found this review helpful
I recommend this book highly for anyone interested in family history and the social history of London. Ms Tindall has undertaken immense research and the book is well worth reading if you are a family historian, for the many tips she drops onto the pages. This book is an absolute gem and I am going to keep it on my bookshelf for ever because of its lavish historical description of London as well as the wonderful story of the families and people who lived on Bankside - the two are woven together most amazingly. I am longing to read Ms Tindall other books now. Definitely buy this book if you are a family historian or interested in old London town.
A pleasant overviewMarch 12, 2007 M. Davey(TELFORD, SHROPSHIRE) 17 out of 18 found this review helpful
This book is a pleasant enough read - certainly no more. I picked it up because my wife and I have walked past the house and are generally interested in London history. The house itself is used as a peg on which to hang some social history of the area from the early 1700s and none the worse for that. You get a flavour of the development of industry,education, the sewage system etc. Anyone expecting a good deal about the house itself and housing generally will be disappointed.
A work of Fiction....?April 25, 2006 A. Tolmie(Italy) 33 out of 44 found this review helpful
From the surprisingly numerous reviews I saw in the national press for this book, I understood that one of the main claims to fame of the author was the quality of her research. I am at a loss to understand why. From a cursory perusal of the latter chapters - with the subject matter of which I was personally very familiar - the most striking feature for me was the multitude of errors of both omission and commission which tumbled out; I was left with no confidence that the book in general could be the result of detailed and comprehensive research. Perhaps it should be understood as loosely 'anecdotal' and read in that light, rather than as an attempt at serious social history?
superb easy historical readApril 3, 2006 brianthelion(Birmingham, United Kingdom) 21 out of 29 found this review helpful
the title says it all really, its certainly the quickest i have read through a book of this nature. really couldn,t put it down and will certainly read other books by this author.
