Frozen in Time
A review of the Emblem Editions paperback (October 7, 2008) of the original McClelland & Stewart hardcover (October 16, 2007).

In its long history, the river Thames has frozen solid forty times. These are the stories of that frozen river.* - The book's Introduction.

This is a delightful series of short vignettes, 2-3 pages or so each. They are snapshots of events, usually based on some historic record, which Helen Humphreys has then fictionalized to tell as a short story. It starts with Empress Matilda's escape over the frozen river Isis (the name of the Thames in Oxford) in 1142. It carries on with either events involving Royalty or with common people and merchants. Many of these centre around the Frost Fairs of entertainments organized on the frozen river. The final year portrayed is 1895.

See painting at https://www.historic-uk.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/thames-river-frost-fair-s...
Thames Frost Fair (1683-84) painting by Thomas Wyke. Image sourced from Historic-UK.

The river was wider and moved slower in those days. The old London Bridge also acted as a barrier and would slow the waters further, allowing the freeze to happen in the main channel. Although the newer London Bridges allow for faster water passage and make for a narrowed river, there are still sections that freeze over, see the photo below for instance.
See photo at https://i.pinimg.com/originals/c7/6b/8a/c76b8a54a91684cb1900443642c6cf8c.jpg
A section of the frozen Thames in the winter of 1962-63. Image sourced from Pinterest.

Footnote, Trivia and Links
* The Thames would have of course have frozen over many times before the year 1142 which is the first year of the 40 used in this book. So it would be more accurate to say 40 times since 1141 perhaps, or 40 times in the historical records of the last millennium. The Wikipedia article about Thames Frost Fairs mentions a freeze in the year 695 for instance.

Read more about the Thames Frost Fairs at a Wikipedia article here. ( )

This is a beautiful set of vignettes set in all the recorded years the Thames has frozen between 1142 and 1895. It's a lovely book - a small hardcover with glossy pages and beautiful illustrations. The vignettes are also beautifully written, invoking the pain of ice and cold, but also the beauty and the transformative properties.

I loved it. ( )

London’s River Thames has frozen just 40 times in its history. Author Helen Humphreys calls this small volume “a meditation on ice,” with short vignettes based on actual events at the time of each occurrence, from 1142 to 1895. Sometimes the freezing coincided with a significant event in the life of the country, such as the execution of King Charles I. The frozen river also served as an occasion for revelry, with Frost Fairs on the ice providing food, drink, entertainment, and of course, souvenirs. The frozen river and the associated cold temperatures also dramatically affected the lives of everyday people, especially those who made their livelihood on the river. And, inevitably, the sudden onset of a thaw sometimes led to tragedy.

Each vignette is no more than a few pages long, and includes period artwork to bring the scenes to life. Some are just a glimpse into long-ago times, but more often than not Humphreys’ writing captures the human spirit with an emotional impact that surprised me. This is a lovely volume which should be savored, and read again and again. ( )

In its long history, the river Thames has frozen solid forty times. These are the stories of that frozen river.

Beginning with 1142 and ending in 1895, Helen Humphreys, via forty short vignettes, weaves a historical event around each freezing of the river. A unique and well-crafted book on an unusual event that made for an interesting read.
( )

This series of vignettes is like a platter of canapés, which if it doesn't quite make a meal, does leave a good impression of the chef. ( )