The Historic Thames: A Portrait of England's Greatest River

by Hilaire Belloc

The Thames lies at the very heart of London and the south of England--both physically and metaphorically--and this engaging and personal portrait offers a perfect introduction to the river’s many charms. Hilaire Belloc is justly famous for his wonderful and mischievous Cautionary Tales which in recent years have over-shadowed his other significant achievements as a writer. The Historic Thames redresses this balance, offering a personal and warm view of the river Thames in the early twentieth century. Following the Thames two hundred miles upriver through London to its Cotswold source, Belloc skilfully blends historical observations and personal commentary through his distinctive and elegant style. He draws revealing comparisons between the Thames and the Rhine, the Seine and other important European waterways to highlight the Thames’s unique significance within British life. Revealing as much about the countryside, English identity and the author himself as about its history, The Historic Thames presents a romantic yet honest portrait of Britain’s greatest river. A joy for anyone interested in travel, memoir, geography and history, Hilaire Belloc’s The Historic Thames demonstrates the mighty river’s contribution to the wider history of Great Britain.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1989

About the author

People considered Joseph Hilaire Pierre René Belloc, French-born British writer, as a master of light English prose and also knew widely his droll verse, especially The Bad Child's Book of Beasts in 1896.

Sharp wit of Hilaire Belloc, an historian, poet, and orator, extended across literary output and strong political and religious convictions. Oxford educated this distinguished debater and scholar. Throughout his career, he prolifically across a range of genres and produced histories, essays, travelogues, poetry, and satirical works.

Cautionary Tales for Children collects best humorous yet dark morals, and historical works of Hilaire Belloc often reflected his staunch Catholicism and critique of Protestant interpretations. He led advocates of an economic theory that promotes and championed distribution of small-scale property ownership as a middle ground between capitalism and socialism alongside Gilbert Keith Chesterton, his close friend.

In politics, Hilaire Belloc served as a member of Parliament for the Liberal party, but the establishment disillusioned him. His polemical style and strong opinions made a controversial figure, who particularly viewed modernism, secularism, and financial capitalism as threats to traditional Christian society in his critiques.

Influence and vast literary legacy of Hilaire Belloc extends into historical circles. Erudition, humor, and a forceful rhetorical style characterized intellectual vigor and unique perspective, which people continue to study and to appreciate, on history, society, and human nature.

Reviews

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't overly impressed with the writing in this book. After deciding to narrow the scope of my London history, I was excited to find something just about the Thames. It starts off well enough but becomes repetitive very quickly. The author tends, also, to start wandering, and sometimes I would stop and just wonder what the hell he was going on about. The subject of English history is fascinating no matter what, hence the 3 stars, but I don't think this was written all that well and it might put a less hardy Anglophile to sleep.

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate it when I pick up a book cold, read a few passages that are interesting, buy it, and find I've ready the only interesting parts. Kind of like a self-selected movie trailer. And it really isn't about the Thames after the first 1/3. Of course, the interesting parts are when he forgets about the Thames (he goes on at great length about the effects of the Dissolution).

[Lynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This describes the vital role of the Thames in English history, in a very engaging fashion. From headwaters to the sea, it covers the way the river contributed to war, peace, prosperity, and every other condition of the settlers along the banks.

[Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

A history of England's most famous river by former early 20th century Liberal MP. I struggled a bit with this one as there were no chapters, just one long continuous piece of text. Also, for a book about water, it was rather dry.