This is a challenging book to rate because some of it is fabulous and some of it is not. It is a difficult book to write--about 1,000 years of history in short, short stories about each freezing of the Thames. Each one is a different time of history, a different point of view, a character of a different class, age, social role.

That is a lot to take on in a very short book that is barely 200 pages with pictures and a small format. Some of it is beautifully done. Some of it is engrossing, vivid, and exquisite. All of it carried me through to the end. Some of the time, the language was stilted, and I felt that happened when the historical facts had not been worked into the story. At those times the first person narrator felt too intrusively modern, the thoughts and concepts either not fitting the time or not articulated in a way that felt authentic to the time.

I know myself, from writing novels set in other times and places, how tempting it is to put in all the interesting research, and it takes a number of drafts to get the telling detail that gives a sense of time, and to be immersed enough in the time to give it authenticity. I wonder if there wasn't enough time to fully develop those stories.

In any case, I'd recommend the book. It's enjoyable and at times impressive.