Reading City London, Starting With The Thames

The Thames is the longest river in England, with a total length of 346 km. It runs through London and more than ten towns along the river. In his biography of London, Ackroyd pointed out that the dominance of the Thames in London had been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people long before the arrival of the Romans. It is said that the place where the Thames Bay was built is the first choice for the people to control the river course for many years, because it is said that the place where the Thames Bay was built is the first choice for the people to control the river. This choice is the starting point of the historical narration of the times: the great river city, which we see today. The Thames River flows through a long time and space, witnessing and experiencing the rise and fall of every segment of urban civilization in London. No matter how the city changes and expands, the Thames is always in the center of London, so it is nicknamed "old father" by British people. This is closely related to the early myths and ancient legends about the river god. The Thames has always been regarded as a sacred river with an inner mysterious power.

Peter Ackroyd is an encyclopedic biographer. He can write interesting knowledge and anecdotes that seem boring. He believes that the character and appearance of the city itself is deeply influenced by the Thames. This is not only because the river Thames, as a river of trade, has brought about sustained commercial prosperity to London. I am afraid it is also inseparable from the spiritual power projected by the river Thames. To some extent, the Thames has become the embodiment of "British" and London spirit.

Since the beginning of the century, many poets have been able to depict the life style and life of the people along the river. The Thames is a metaphor of human life. The river itself is endowed with the manifestation of human personality. Therefore, poetry about the Thames always emphasizes its relevance to human destiny and its similarity with social reality. The Thames River has become a symbol of redemption and renewal in people's hearts. It is connected with "treatment", is the river of "comfort" and "rebirth", and supports the belief of "I will rise again" in London. Spencer was the main singer of the Thames in 1559. In his works, various types and forms of literature are integrated to complete the narration of the Thames representing national identity and identity. He used the Thames to express the concept of "greatness" and the course of British history, and regarded the river Thames as a symbol of harmony and unity, innocence, kindness and prosperity.

Canaletto (1697-1768), the most famous Italian landscape painter in the 18th century, was commissioned to paint many landscapes along the Thames. He endowed the Thames with bright colors and vitality. In the pure and even light, the magnificent London spread along the Thames. Canaletto established the concept of the Thames as the "source of civilization" and described it as an elegant and harmonious River, which was also infected by the magnificent buildings on both sides of the river. The Thames is regarded as a force to promote the development of civilization, and it is also a vivid embodiment of the nature of London river. This idealistic presentation and aesthetic concept not only affected many artists of the same era, but also his influence has not dissipated. Later, the study of the local natural environment and the exploration and appreciation of the Thames became part of the British understanding of the booming "national identity" for a period of time. William Turner (1775-1851) is one of the best artists in the Thames. In his early depiction of "the Thames", or "the river Thames", he has already introduced the meaning of "the river Thames" and "the river Thames" in his early works. His oil painting "England: Richmond Hill, Prince's birthday" (created in 1819, now collected in the Tate Gallery), shows the Thames as a symbol of "national harmony" and "infinite peace", which is closely related to the social thought and artistic trend at that time.

The Thames is regarded as an egalitarian river of entertainment by Ackroyd. Early coastal festivals were held in memory of the gods who guarded the rivers and oceans. In modern times, various sports activities, such as canoeing and rowing, are very popular among the general public. Even by the mid-19th century, these events had become Londoners' festivals. In the Edwardian era, the Thames was the river of leisure and fashion. From the count to the workers in the east end of London, everyone likes to play on the river. The diversity and richness of other festivals and recreational gatherings held on or along the Thames as "Customs" continue into the 21st century. It never presented itself in a different way, just like the Thames said Today, total Thames is the largest free outdoor art festival in London. In September each year, more than 100 independent arts and cultural activities, covering 42 miles of the Thames in London, continue for a full month. At the end of 2018, the Greater London government proposed the urban development strategy with the purpose of "culture for all", which is exactly the representation of this London spirit.

Croce said, "all true history is contemporary history.". This history of mobility is no exception. In the times: the city of the river, Ackroyd does not simply reproduce the past. His emphasis on the "egalitarianism" of the Thames is in line with London's current efforts to create a more public and powerful city. Ackroyd did not hide or avoid some limitations in London's urban development, such as substantial inequality. He took the spirit of "egalitarianism" as a force to guide urban reform and renewal. No matter big river or big city, life is in the inheritance and metabolism of all things, and the road flows and grows endlessly.