In its long history, the river Thames has frozen solid forty times. These are the stories of that frozen river.So begins this breathtaking and original work, which contains forty vignettes based on events that actually took place each time the historic Thames froze solid. Spanning more than seven centuriesfrom 1142 to 1895and illustrated with stunning full-color period art, The Frozen Thames is an achingly beautiful feat of the imaginationa work of fiction that transports us back through history to cast us as intimate observers of unforgettable moments in time.Whether were viewing the magnificent spectacle of King Henry VIII riding across the ice highway (while plotting to rid himself of his second wife) or participating in a joyous Frost Fair on the ice, joining lovers meeting on the frozen river during the plague years or coming upon the sight of a massive ship frozen into the Thamesthese unforgettable stories are a triumph of the imagination as well as a moving meditation on love, loss, and the transformative powers of nature.From the Hardcover edition.