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mgretzky's review
5.0
The back cover of this book describes the author as “the drinking man’s Bill Bryson,” which was great news for me as I love Bill Bryson and histories of old buildings. Very much enjoyed this book, and will definitely check out the George should I ever be in London!
jvan's review
3.0
Fascinating reading here, mixed with some boring bits; but the account of what an inn was in different historical periods is amazing. I am terribly inspired to write something set within such a place.
maiakobabe's review
3.0
Shakespeare's Pub tells the (somewhat scanty) history of the George Inn, the oldest pub still standing in London. The story of the George is filled out with the history of Southwark in general- in Elizabethan times it was the entertainment center of the city, packed with pubs, inns, ale houses, brothels, bull-fights and theaters. The title is somewhat misleading but the book was enjoyable.
bonnieq's review
3.0
It took me longer to get through it than I expected, but it was written in such a friendly manner, that it was fun to read.
kleonard's review
4.0
This was fun and lively reading, but the author's (or publisher's) lack of using the Oxford/serial comma in lists often made for some rather strange word salad.
scotchneat's review
4.0
First off, The George Inn has a minuscule chance of having been Shakespeare's pub, but books must be sold and all that. The thing is, though, that Brown is such a delightful writer and detailed researcher, he really didn't need that big name on the front.
Brown traces The George Inn on the south bank back to its earliest beginnings, dragging along the very colourful history of hostelry, invasions, London Bridge, beer-making, entertainments, transportation and changing societal norms.
Still kicking myself that we didn't know about The George when last in London.
Brown traces The George Inn on the south bank back to its earliest beginnings, dragging along the very colourful history of hostelry, invasions, London Bridge, beer-making, entertainments, transportation and changing societal norms.
Still kicking myself that we didn't know about The George when last in London.
halfmanhalfbook's review
4.0
This is a fascinating local history book, all seen from a pub window.
Brown has done lots of research into the George Inn, in Southwark. There is documentary evidence for the pub being on sight in 1542 and it has bee there is one iteration or another ever since. It is suspected that it had been there before, but there is no hard evidence to prove this.
In the book he looks at the way that the function of the building has changed from pub to coaching inn and as it now owned by the National Trust, into a working historical building. There is a lot of history of the Southwark area, mainly to put the pub and inns into a better context. This was one of the main routes int London for many years, and lead to one of the few bridges that crossed the Thames, and the early maps show that the George was one of several hundred pubs in the area.
Where he can he write about the characters linked or loosely associated with the pub. The pub was in existence when Shakespeare was alive, and whilst they cannot prove one way of the other if he every frequented the place, they cannot rule it out. Some of Dickens work mentions the and neighbouring pubs, so he speculates again on his attendance.
Really good local history book, but if you are expecting lots on Shakespeare, you'll be disappointed.
Brown has done lots of research into the George Inn, in Southwark. There is documentary evidence for the pub being on sight in 1542 and it has bee there is one iteration or another ever since. It is suspected that it had been there before, but there is no hard evidence to prove this.
In the book he looks at the way that the function of the building has changed from pub to coaching inn and as it now owned by the National Trust, into a working historical building. There is a lot of history of the Southwark area, mainly to put the pub and inns into a better context. This was one of the main routes int London for many years, and lead to one of the few bridges that crossed the Thames, and the early maps show that the George was one of several hundred pubs in the area.
Where he can he write about the characters linked or loosely associated with the pub. The pub was in existence when Shakespeare was alive, and whilst they cannot prove one way of the other if he every frequented the place, they cannot rule it out. Some of Dickens work mentions the and neighbouring pubs, so he speculates again on his attendance.
Really good local history book, but if you are expecting lots on Shakespeare, you'll be disappointed.
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