Mudlark

In Search of London's Past Along the River Thames

By: Lara Maiklem

Narrated by: Xanthe Elbrick

Length: 9 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's Summary

A quixotic journey through London's past, Mudlark plumbs the banks of the Thames to reveal the stories hidden behind the archaeological remnants of an ancient city.

Long heralded as a city treasure herself, expert "mudlarker" Lara Maiklem is uniquely trained in the art of seeking. Tirelessly trekking across miles of the Thames' muddy shores, where others only see the detritus of city life, Maiklem unearths evidence of England's captivating, if sometimes murky, history - with some objects dating back to 43 AD, when London was but an outpost of the Roman Empire. From medieval mail worn by warriors on English battlefields to 19th-century glass marbles mass-produced for the nation's first soda bottles, Maiklem deduces the historical significance of these artifacts with the quirky enthusiasm and sharp-sightedness of a 21st-century Sherlock Holmes. 

Seamlessly interweaving reflections from her own life with meditations on the art of wandering, Maiklem ultimately delivers - for Anglophiles and history lovers alike - a memorable treatise on the objects we leave in our wake, and the stories they can reveal if only we take a moment to look.

©2019 Lara Maiklem (P)2019 Recorded Books

thoroughly enjoyed

This is a light and easy listen compared to my usual fare, but not fluffy. There is a peaceful meditative quality to the prose and reader, with much history casually addressed without seeming like a lecture. I binge listened and think that I will give it a second listen.

I wish that there was a pdf with photos.

A Romantic Tale of Things Lost and Found

Excellently written and excellently performed. Mudlark is a beautifully crafted ode to the Thames and the mudlarkers who piece together the river’s story one treasure at a time.

Very interesting tidbits of history and treasure

A friend recommended this book, and I enjoyed listening to it. The hard copy of the book includes some photographs of the treasures found. So intrigued by what the Thames encapsulates in its banks. Narrator has a great voice.

A fantastic read

Great book with a well executed narration. I highly recommend it to all fans of history archeology natural history and so on

A great listen

Wonderful memoir, with stories of history and culture. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Wish her first was on audible.

Thanks for bringing me to the Thames with you!

Living in the US, I have a little hope that I will be able to snag a mudlarking permit and spend days walking the Thames riverbanks.
I’m so grateful for the time spent with Lara in this novel. It was the perfect escapism.

Fun, informative and never stuffy!

This Audible book is one of my favorites because it had everything...human interest, history, the identification of artifacts, but most of all, a people's history. This selection included people from all walks of life, not just the royals. I could easily imagine myself walking the Thames with mudlarkers! It was fascinating to listen to the authentication process of various items. The narrator was amazing!! She gets 5 stars 🌟 🤩 ⭐ 🌠 💫

nice book with London history

nice book with London history. pleasure to listen and ton hear all the be stories

How to say reader good, production poor?

This is my second experience with a very interesting book very well read in which the first syllable or two of a huge number of phrases and sentences just isn't there. At all. Not low volume, just gone. The other one was Michelle Obama's "Becoming". Deleting it from my device and re-downloading didn't fix it. Audible can do better.

Beautifully Written and Read

A down to earth but also very romantic and poetic story of the River, and one woman’s, and also countless multitudes relationship to it. So good.