Mudlark

Starred review from August 12, 2019
British editor Maiklem plumbs the archaeological history of the Thames River through unearthed remnants discovered on its banks in her engrossing debut. Taking up mudlarking—scavenging for hidden treasures—Maiklem “tunes in to the voices of the past.” She explains the river’s tidal effects—for example, that “the height between low and high water at London Bridge varies from between 15 and 22 feet”—and has learned the tidal table of each shore access point. When the tide goes out, she unearths jewelry, pottery, buttons, pipes, combs, armor, medals, and clothing. In Tidal Head, she uncovers a stopper to a Victorian Codd bottle, which sealed fizzy drinks; she then recalls that the oldest stopper she found was a clay, Roman-era olive oil stopper made in Naples. “The objects that are hidden in the mud at Greenwich fill in the details that are missing from history books,” she writes. There, she uncovers cooking pots and dishes that were used in the nearby 16th-century palace of Henry VIII, and surmises that “he held extravagant entertainments,” while explaining how the meals must have been prepared and served. This thoroughly fascinating look at treasure hunting along the banks of the Thames also serves as an astute history lesson.

October 1, 2019

The sense of discovery, of finding forgotten objects, is captured superbly in Maiklem's debut. The author's hobby is roving along various parts of the tidal River Thames in search of artifacts. Much like its cousin archaeology, mudlarking is comprised of both the search for interesting items followed by the process of identifying the object through research. Of course, being found in a river, the context of the piece--a key component of archaeology--is lost. She and her fellow enthusiasts have discovered in this pastime snippets of London's history that, when patched together, form a compelling narrative of both its natural and its human history. From long discarded oyster shells to 18th-century police uniform buttons, the items she finds encourage her to research the people behind the artifacts. For example, finding a well-preserved bottle near where prison hulks were once moored leads Maiklem to learn that one of her ancestors was a prisoner on one of the ships bound for the penal colony in Australia. VERDICT Maiklem positions the River Thames as a narrator, which only offers up some of its stories in a piecemeal fashion. The parts that are revealed, however, make for a captivating read.--Brian Renvall, Mesalands Community Coll., Tucumcari, NM

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2019
British editor Maiklem shares her obsession with the treasures she has found in the mud of the River Thames. The author takes us on a tour from the end of the tidal Thames at Teddington down to the estuary at Lower Hope Point. As she notes, the tides dictate the course of her investigations. A mudlark, someone who "scavenges for usable debris in the mud of a river or harbor," must know all of the permutations of the tides throughout the year. The author's discoveries range from Roman coins to the ubiquitous clay pipes and pieces of tile and pottery to unexploded ordnance from World War II. Mudlarks are easy to spot, with their dirty boots, knee pads, latex gloves, and waterproof suits smeared with mud. Maiklem explains how they rely on luck but also have the patience and time to devote to their craft. Their best guides, she writes, are old maps, especially the Agas map of 1561, which presents a wealth of clues to population activity. Barge beds, wharves, and revetments deteriorate, dislodging the domestic refuse and rubble that filled them, an ever changing source of both banal and intriguing items. Some mudlarks use metal detectors while others dig. After the tides expose her finds, the author has to properly identify and preserve them; if they dry too fast, they could crumble. The author also discusses the role of government in her endeavor, as a permit is necessary and discoveries must be reported to the Museum of London. In 1957, the Natural History Museum declared the river biologically dead, and the cleanup has been ongoing ever since. In the 1970s, fish returned to the river, but there are still dangerous microbes lurking, and London's storm drains dump raw sewage into the river after heavy rains. Throughout the narrative, Maiklem's imagination and infectious enthusiasm make for a lovely fantasy world where "the tiniest of objects...tell the greatest stories." Entertaining reading for British history buffs and budding archaeologists.

COPYRIGHT(2019) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.