A good quick read with an interesting premise, combination of memoir and a bit of a historical hodgepodge, but if you know a bit about London's history already most of this is well trodden ground

I was a little sceptical that someone could write a whole book on collecting stuff from the banks of the Thames but they have done so and with pace and clarity. Apart from the masses of items Maiklem has collected, the history she relays of the Thames and its riverside factories & areas is a lesson in itself and very much appreciated.

I’ve always been fascinated by finding things on the shoreline whether they be old things discarded by humans, natural objects shaped by the sea, or evidence of past life in the form of fossils. When the opportunity came along to get a copy of Mudlarking I jumped at it. I’ve heard the name a lot over the last ten or so years and knew in essence what it was but it was lovely to read someones development as a mudlarker, from the early discoveries to where she is now, juggling this passion with family. The mix of current biography with historical research is absolutely compelling, linking these found objects to their past and personalising the stories of their production and loss made me want to learn more about them (and take a large pair of wellies with me whenever I go to London). The book is set out in chapters of exploration corresponding to sections of the tidal Thames, with a few stories of discoveries and biography in each section. This is well-paced and the writing is warm and personal making you involved in Lara’s discoveries and growth. The illustrations from Johnny Mudlark one the cover are absolutely fascinating and I would love to see more. An excellent book, teasing and open at the same time, all about hidden treasure that fascinates us all.

The author is obviously passionate about the Thames and its history; a Mudlark who has spent the last 15 years combing the Thames for interesting objects discarded or lost by Londoners over thousands of years. Hear the stories of these fascinating finds – like ancient Stone Age flints and Georgian clay pipes, all preserved like a time capsule in the oxygen free Thames mud. Lara doesn’t shy away from revealing the true extent of the rubbish floating in the river even as she celebrates the finds she makes from the rubbish tossed into the Thames in times past. I loved this book, and especially the way that Lara brings to life the very ordinary lives of the everyday people who lost or dumped their possessions in the Thames. She is a true amateur archaeologist using river Thames as a excavation ground. A fascinating, well written and educational read – an opportunity to time travel and daydream about lives past.

I found this to be a fascinating book. Lara Maiklem is absolutely passionate about the Thames, its tides and shores and the treasures to be found there. Her enthusiasm is contagious as she paints a vivid picture of all aspects of Mudlarking and she does not hold back on her description of the pungent odour and detritus to be found in some areas. As one would imagine, mud features predominantly and the reader can almost hear the 'suck' in the mud as a welly boot is pulled free. I loved the descriptions of the treasures Lara found and also the well researched history of the objects and Lara's thoughts on who handled or used these items and how they may have found their way into the river. I really enjoyed this book and learned a lot about London and the river Thames and the people who lived in bygone days, whose lives depended on and intermingled with the Thames. An absorbing, informative novel which I highly recommend.