Gillian Tindall

"Just across the River Thames from St. Paul's Cathedral stands an old house. It is the last genuine survivor of what was once a long ribbon of elegant houses overlooking the water. Built in the days of Queen Anne, it stands in the footprint of a far older habitation. Once, on this spot, was the Cardinal's Cap, a timbered Tudor inn; its vaulted cellars are still there, beneath the bricks and plaster and panelling of later centuries." "Some of the people who have lived in the house have been skilled; some were prosperous traders in the coal and iron on which Britain's industrial revolution ran. Some were rich and flamboyant; one was an early film star. Others have been among London's numberless poor." "All these real people, from the most famous to the most obscure, Gillian Tindall has researched through multiple archives, old newspapers, contemporary accounts and the memories of their descendents. She breathes life into the forgotten names of individuals who were as passionate in their time as we ourselves - and in so doing makes them stand for legions of others and for whole worlds that we have lost through hundreds of years of London's history."--BOOK JACKET.

A loving husband, two beautiful adopted sons, an amiable stepdaughter and the possibility of an addition to the family—Monica Brunetti has it all. But suddenly her idyllic life in a picturesque South African village unravels. Her boys respond to the siren call of America, and her husband's daughter may be leaving as well. Change might be easier to bear if only a baby were on the way....Then Monica's friend Francina, also threatened with an empty nest, sets off on what may be a fool's errand—or her household's salvation. Can Monica, too, find the faith and courage to reunite her family?

Having grown up in Highgate just after the Second World War, I read this book a few years ago and have just decided to read it again. It is a fascinating insite into the social history of Kentish Town and the surrounding area. It records the migration of affluent people following the development of the railway system and their recent return due to increased fares. It also answered some questions I had regarding the numerous bomb sites I played in as a child. A very enjoyable read.

"Who hasn't wanted to become 'someone else'? The person you've always wanted to be ... the person who won't give up half way to your dreams and desires?" "One evening two men who have just met at a Paris tennis club make a bet: they give each other exactly three years to radically alter their lives. Thierry, a picture framer with a steady clientele, has always wanted to be a private investigator. Nicolas is a shy, teetotal executive trying not to fall off the corporate ladder. But becoming someone else is not without risk; at the very least the risk of finding yourself."--Jacket.