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Description
The Mercenary River : Private Greed, Public Good: A History of London's Water by Nick HighamNo city can survive without water, and lots of it. Today we take the stuff for granted: turn a tap and it gushes out. But it wasn't always so. For centuries London, one of the largest and richest cities in the world, struggled to supply its citizens with reliable, clean water. The Mercenary River tells the story of that struggle from the middle ages to the present day. Based on new research, it tells a tale of remarkable technological, scientific and
No city can survive without water, and lots of it. Today we take the stuff for granted: turn a tap and it gushes out. But it wasn't always so.For centuries London, one of the largest and richest cities in the world, struggled to supply its citizens with reliable, clean water. The Mercenary River tells the story of that struggle from the middle ages to the present day. Based on new research, it tells a tale of remarkable technological, scientific and organisational breakthroughs; but also a story of greed and complacency, high finance and low politics.
Among the breakthroughs was the picturesque New River, neither new nor a river but a state of the art aqueduct completed in 1613 and still part of London's water supply: the company that built it was one of the very first modern business corporations, and also one of the most profitable. London water companies were early adopters of steam power for their pumps. And Chelsea Waterworks was the first in the world to filter the water it supplied its customers: the same technique is still used to purify two-thirds of London's drinking water.
But for much of London's history water had to be rationed, and the book also chronicles our changing relationship with water and the way we use it. Amongst many stories, Nick Higham's page-turning narrative uncovers the murky tale of how the most powerful steam engine in the world was first brought to London; the extraordinary story of how one Victorian London water company deliberately cut off 2,000 households, even though it knew they had no alternative source of supply; the details of a financial scandal which brought two of the water companies close to collapse in the 1870s; and finally asks whether today's 21st century water companies are an improvement on their Victorian predecessors.
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★★★★★ 5
Great for use atop the bedside table!
Very nice! I bought this for my father for his birthday, and he really liked the gift! It's a nice little place for him to keep all of his essentials together on the bedside table. No more losing his watch, keys, wallet, etc. or knocking them off the table!
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Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Excellent stylish organizer!
Excellent design and quality of material, practical and functional!
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Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2025
★★★★★ 5
Love it
It looks good and is well made.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2025
★★★★★ 5
Bedside organizer
Perfect gift for my boyfriend. It is sturdy and is able to get all his stuff in it, they size is perfect it fits great on his nightstand stand, it was easy to use/organize all his stuff and it is light weight
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Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2026
★★★★★ 4
Low quality leather
Good product but the leather is kinda cheap, already pealing back a little.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2025