The Historic Thames

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.