Liberty over London Bridge: A History of the People of Southwark.
- Author/Editor
- Willes, Margaret.
- Title
- Liberty over London Bridge: A History of the People of Southwark.
- Published
- Willes, Margaret. Liberty over London Bridge: A History of the People of Southwark. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2024.
- Review
- Willes' is a spirited account of the rich and often revolutionary history of Southwark, from its Roman antecedents up to modernity. Rather than approach such a complicated history chronologically, Willes organizes the book thematically, with chapters on such topics as London Bridge (Chapter 2: London Bridge is Falling Down) to the demographic breadth of residents over the years (Ch 7: A Mixed Community) to its importance in England's history as a center for health care and medicine (Chapter 10: Medical Matters) to its contribution to London's, and England's, financial security (Chapter 12: A Center for Commerce). But for all of its sprawling breadth, "Liberty over London Bridge" is grounded by two complementary areas of focus: the stories of individual people and families of Southwark (which greatly contributes to the book's liveliness) and the central role the Cathedral (from its establishment as St. Mary Overies, then as St. Saviour, and now Southwark Cathedral) played in the borough's history. It is mainly in the context of the Cathedral that Willes evokes Gower, primarily in Chapter 4: On the Road to Canterbury, which begins with a description of Gower's Tomb. The chapter spends little time on the Cathedral, or Southwark generally, in the context of pilgrimage, instead focusing on the borough's significance as reflected in its two most important medieval authors: Gower and Chaucer. "Liberty over London Bridge" appears to be targeting a more popular audience, and Willes focuses on summarizing Gower's life (including his will and his marriage to Groundolf) and the content of Gower's three major works, since they are represented in the tomb, and then similarly summarizes Gower's life and works, with special attention to Southwark's Tabard Inn in the "Canterbury Tales." [BWG. Copyright. John Gower Society. eJGN 43.2]
- Date
- 2024
- Gower Subjects
- Backgrounds and General Criticism
Biography of Gower