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This river features in many works of literature, especially Dickens novels but I can't remember which ones.

I'm sure there are some Sarah Waters nominees in here.

I don't know from Fleet Street, but think there is a P.D. James novel that has all to do with the Thames, London. Great Expectations features many scenes up and down the Thames.

Thom wrote: "I don't know from Fleet Street, but think there is a P.D. James novel that has all to do with the Thames, London. Great Expectations features many scenes up and down the Thames."

DUH, is the Fleet River the same as the Thames? I got a note that appeared to be from you about Jane Austen but I cannot access it.

The Fleet is/was a tributary of the Thames (the above picture shows its mouth). It was paved over/ rerouted into an underground canal at some point in the 19th century -- not exactly sure when. Fleet Street gets its name from the river; I think it once used to run parallel to its banks, or pretty close by anyway. This is the area where the prisons were that Dickens describes in some of his novels.

Themis-Athena wrote: "The Fleet is/was a tributary of the Thames (the above picture shows its mouth). It was paved over/ rerouted into an underground canal at some point in the 19th century -- not exactly sure when. F..."

Thanks for the explanation. I googled it and read a little bit about it. Goodreads is "throwing me out" today. When I click on a link to get here it lets me in and I read whatever but then it wants my password however its not good enough and out I go. This is a first for me but I have had many problems with goodreads especially the advertising can mess things up for me.

Hello there Canary - no, the Fleet is not the Thames although it does run into it. It is used in a lot of fiction and played quite a rôle in the history of London:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Fleet

Hello from Ohio, where we wouldn't know Fleet if we fell into it....would there be titles which play on the "Fleet Street" of journalist fame. Does Fleet street run over the river.
Again, I seem to recall a Dickens where there is access to the buried-underground-Fleet.
How 'bout history, did "the fleet" tie up there back in Roman times, say ?

This is the first I've heard of this river.

yay - check this out:

http://www.fluffhouse.org.uk/lynnette...

http://www.silentuk.com/writeups/flee...

Would Rumpole count? seeing as he drinks Chateau Fleet Street...

We operate on wide platform here - Chateau Fleet Street qualifies as it's the Fleet river that gives it's unique piquancy!? hahahahah

okee dokee!

The book Rivers of London (Midnight Riot) actually has a character that is the personification/goddess of the River Fleet.

Pippa wrote: "The book Rivers of London (Midnight Riot) actually has a character that is the personification/goddess of the River Fleet."

I'll have to hunt that book down, thanks Pippa.