The main rivers of England are not plentiful. No majestic Nile leisurely meanders through arid regions and bountiful plains on its 3,000-mile journey to the ocean; no thunderous Brahmaputra plummets down its inclines, plummeting two or three miles as it spans half of a continent from frigid mountain summits to balmy coast. The largest rivers in England are merely the smallest, trickling creeks in contrast to these. Despite everything, the earth has always valued our small streams greatly. The rivers Tyne, Severn, Humber, Trent, Thames, Mersey, and Ouse, together with numerous other smaller but equally significant streams, have all contributed to the development of England's history and its subsequent rise to commercial prosperity. Valleys have been uplifted to create new highlands, and entire mountain ranges have vanished from view. Large tracts of land have sunk deep enough to let water to flow in and create new seas, while the ocean floor has been propelled up either abruptly or gradually, giving rise to whole new continents. Geology, the study of rocks and the fossils that are buried in them, has taught us everything we know about the planet.

This children's book tells the story of two river gods, Father Thames and Father Rhine, who are pitted against each other in a race to see who is the mightiest river. Along the way, they encounter various obstacles and creatures, and must rely on their wits and strength in order to succeed. The book is full of adventure and excitement, and is sure to captivate young readers.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1875.

The 19th-century MP John Burns described the Thames as 'liquid history' and ever since the Romans founded Londinium in 43 AD, the river has played a key cultural and economic, political and social role in the history of England. London's Strangest: The Thames reveals the bizarre, funny and surreal events and episodes that have occurred over the centuries on, beneath and along the banks of the famous waterway. From appearances of the world's first submarine to the raid on the Sex Pistols river concert, Lord Nelson's final journey to John Prescott's watery protest, and even the recent escapades during the floods, the River Thames really has witnessed it all.

In this perfect companion to London: The Biography, Peter Ackroyd once again delves into the hidden byways of history, describing the river's endless allure in a journey overflowing with characters, incidents, and wry observations. Thames: The Biography meanders gloriously, rather like the river itself. In short, lively chapters Ackroyd writes about connections between the Thames and such historical figures as Julius Caesar and Henry VIII, and offers memorable portraits of the ordinary men and women who depend upon the river for their livelihoods. The Thames as a source of artistic inspiration comes brilliantly to life as Ackroyd invokes Chaucer, Shakespeare, Turner, Shelley, and other writers, poets, and painters who have been enchanted by its many moods and colors.

"Rebellious teen Jemima Mallard has done the unthinkable. She's joined the Youth Police Department (YPD). Is she serious, or is she spying for the criminal Father Thames? Fellow YPD officer Nick Mallard isn't sure. Before he can test her loyalty, the two must go to war. Their city is under attack. From the Thames Barrier Reef to the Sink estates, strange ships have breached the defenses. London hasn't seen anything like these raiders - adults and kids sailing and working together. But orders are orders, Jem must find find a way to stop them"--

My name is Peter Grant and until January I was just probationary constable in that mighty army for justice known to all right-thinking people as the Metropolitan Police Service (and as the Filth to everybody else). My only concerns in life were how to avoid a transfer to the Case Progression Unit - we do paperwork so real coppers don't have to - and finding a way to climb into the panties of the outrageously perky WPC Leslie May. Then one night, in pursuance of a murder inquiry, I tried to take a witness statement from someone who was dead but disturbingly voluable, and that brought me to the attention of Inspector Nightingale, the last wizard in England. Now I'm a Detective Constable and a trainee wizard, the first apprentice in fifty years, and my world has become somewhat more complicated: nests of vampires in Purley, negotiating a truce between the warring god and goddess of the Thames, and digging up graves in Covent Garden ... and there's something festering at the heart of the city I love, a malicious vengeful spirit that takes ordinary Londoners and twists them into grotesque mannequins to act out its drama of violence and despair.The spirit of riot and rebellion has awakened in the city, and it's falling to me to bring order out of chaos - or die trying.