He brings this vibrant citys long and noble history alive through the ever-shifting fortunes, fates, and intrigues of half-a-dozen families, from the age of Julius Caesar to the twentieth century. Here is Edward Rutherfurds classic novel of London, a glorious pageant spanning two thousand years. 2010. Generation after generation, these families embody the passion, struggle, wealth, and verve of the greatest city in the world.