The Thames and I, on and off the page

The River Thames has appeared in 12 of my novels and I think of it as the lifeforce that runs through my work.

I now live close to the river in Richmond and walk my dog along the towpath almost every day .

The footbridge between Henley and Shiplake was found to be unsafe and closed in May 2022 causing a 2.7-mile diversion.

Just down from Richmond , it is no longer possible to walk to Kew or Barnes as the riverbank has collapsed.

Hammersmith Bridge has been shut since 2019 and will stay that way for another ten years .

[See also: James Blunt live: a nostalgia karaoke] This article appears in the 19 Feb 2025 issue of the New Statesman, Europe Alone.