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Mudlarking is the activity of retrieving items ‘of interest’, previously discarded or lost, from exposed muddy banks and beds of rivers, estuaries or seas. I was prepared to be a bit switched off by the idea of a book describing dull and dirty finds of dubious interest from a riverbed but actually, I was surprised.
My first, superficial impression was one of delight on discovering the author’s dedication of the book “to Sarah”! But I soon realised that the book has much wider appeal…!
The author combines a passion for social history with a deep connection and attraction to this river and sense of reverence and responsibility for all that she retrieves from it. She views the Thames as a custodian of the past which, through the rhythms of nature, reveals archived treasures by throwing them under Maiklem’s scrutinising but respectful searchlight.
The book gently drew me in with its air of mystery and intrigue about the unearthing (literally) of artefacts. The artefacts, however seemingly ‘dull’ or ‘dirty’, are cleverly portrayed as clues about the “long-forgotten lives” of the people and the places that they were once connected with.
Equally intriguing is Maiklem’s personal engagement with this river environment which has drawn her in and retains a firm hold over her. Forgive the pun… she completely ‘immerses’ herself in the rhythms of her environment – the ebb and flow of the tidal Thames. It is a sanctuary that she describes as “her secret place of peace”. She affords the reader access to it through beautifully crafted descriptions that create visual pictures of mudlarking locations. I imagined that she and Diane Setterfield (author of the novel “Once upon a river”) might enjoy a conversation about their passions for stretches of the Thames albeit channelled in different directions!).
I like looking for the meaning in things. I particularly like the idea of uncovering hidden meanings linked to a particular object which provide insights into people and the world, past or present as well as our own place in it. I feel that my lockdown experience has made me stop and reflect more than before, enhancing my curiosity about and appreciation of things that may previously have hidden in plain sight.
This book is definitely for readers with a sense of curiosity and sentimentality such as the “Repair Shop” or “Antiques Roadshow” viewer, who finds interest in exploring the meaning that lies behind some seemingly banal or neglected objects that have lain forgotten within a family’s archives. Or, it may appeal to someone who looks nostalgically at items in a charity shop window remembering another era?
There are some things that, unlike Maiklem, I would be tempted to throw back into the river but her book would NOT be one of them! Despite initial reservations, I would recommend the book as a refreshing and mind-opening read.
#indiebookshopweek
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