My Review (4 stars out of 5)
This is another collection of stories from Tim Walker, with eleven tales taken from various points along London’s timeline. Subjects range from legendary Iceni queen, Boudica (seen from the point of view of the Romans), to more modern stories set in the twentieth century, such as a tale set during the London Blitz and one at the time of the 1966 World Cup Final.
The Boudica tale, along with the one about Wat Tyler and the Peasant’s Revolt, and a different perspective on the Great Fire of London, are my own favourites. However, of the stories set in more recent times I found they didn’t grab my attention quite so much. Having read a few of the author’s books I don’t think this is his best work – too many overlong sentences which lose their meaning, and dialogue that doesn’t ring true to the characters and their time. Also, I thought the stories were generally a little dialogue-heavy and would have benefited from a more thoughtful narrative, closer to the style Mr Walker has used with previous books.
Anyway, aside from my nit-picking, an interesting collection that will appeal to lovers of London and its history.
Author Bio
Tim Walker is an independent author living near Windsor in the UK. His creative writing journey began in earnest in 2013, as a therapeutic activity whilst recovering from cancer treatment. He began writing an historical fiction series, A Light in the Dark Ages, in 2014, inspired by a visit to the part-excavated site of former Roman town Calleva Atrebatum at Silchester in Hampshire. The series connects the end of Roman Britain to elements of the Arthurian legend and is inspired by historical source material, presenting an imagined historical fiction of Britain in the fifth and early sixth centuries.
The last book in the series, Arthur, Rex Brittonum, was published in June 2020. This is a re-imagining of the story of King Arthur and follows on from 2019’s Arthur Dux Bellorum. Both titles are Coffee Pot Book Club recommended reads. The series starts with Abandoned (second edition, 2018); followed by Ambrosius: Last of the Romans (2017); and book three, Uther’s Destiny (2018).
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