The Thames may still flow through the heart of London, but life along its shores has changed dramatically. In Downriver, lain Sinclair traces the r...
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reviews
Jul 11, 2011
Chris
rated it: 
Downriver—Or, The Vessels of Wrath sports a smoky frontispiece of a dozen curious black-and-white photographs: one each of the twelve is subsequently attached to the opening page of the twelve narrative tales that subdivide the book. These photos are of various locales in and around the Congo River at the turn of the previous century: native blacks sport Western apparel; West European merchant travelers take turns going native; modernity and tribal primitivism warily circle each other, releasing
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Aug 03, 2011
I skim read this in order to get all the throwaway comments in which Iain Sinclair displays his deep knowledge of east central and riverine East London. Sometimes with Sinclair the throwaway bits are more interesting than the plot..
Nov 10, 2009
Michael
rated it: 
This was a very funny and at times slightly bonkers book about London,Tilbury and many familiar places inbetween. The usual mix of mad characters and Sinclair himself make for an absorbing read.
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Nov 14, 2009
Adam
rated it:
Insane, bizarre, flowing nightmare of book. Goes from bizarre reporting to freak-out Blakeian visions as it documents London and its people. The past, future, and the present flow freely into one another as Sinclair delivers his freak dream logic in some of the most visceral and strange prose being written today. Fans of Burroughs, Moorcock, and Angela Carter(find her review of it also) need to find this exasperating but brilliant book.
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Aug 12, 2010
Sav
rated it: 
I couldn't get on with this at all. It's very rare that I give up on a book but I could only get halfway through this. Some of the interwoven stories were just about to break out then we'd fly off somewhere else and I'd lose the thread. Possibly just a bit too bonkers for me.
Oct 24, 2010
Brent
rated it: 
Difficult to get through, but pockets of light in the density. The writing was beautiful. Not too sure what it all added up to. One star knocked off because I don't think Sinclair needed to write 530 pages. Memorable, like an epic nightmare.
Jul 19, 2007
Mike
rated it: 
I'll tell you the story of the book-launch to this one day. It's got it all; Whitechapel history, East End gangsters, the ghosts of the Monster Doss House and a chat with Alan Moore.
Mar 09, 2007
Andrew
rated it:
Dense, allusive work from Sinclair. Not an altogether successful novel, but passionate. I found you have to read the majority of his sentences twice. Hence why it only got two stars.
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