Psychological thriller set in Berlin
Explore London through literary greats + GIVEAWAY (closes 14th October)
29th September 2016
Literary London by Eloise Millar and Sam Jordison, explore London through literary greats.
As author Anthony Trevelyan says of Literary London: “A pungent sense of the capital on every page”.
Literary London is an incredibly attractive book with a scraper board cover design, engraved with authors and literary highlights of London, all in stunning black and white, and touches of blue for the river, and ochre in the title (and we rather niftily pick up the ochre theme at the British Library in London for our photo!).
The research for this book must have been staggering. It charts the early days of literature from Chaucer, through Shakespeare to the modern day, all with a twist of insight, quirkiness and humour. This is quite a seminal book of literary London. It is punctuated with drawings and little maps and at the end of each chapter there are key addresses and recommended reading so you can look up the places and people mentioned, and read the books listed for yourself.
The general starting point is Chaucer. The Tabard Inn, which no long exists on Borough High Street, was the assembly point for his Pilgrims setting out on their adventures. The Tabard was in its day close to the George Inn (now owned by the National Trust) which is highlighted because it is the one remaining galleried structure in London, typical of the 17th century, where one can still get a flavour of the the times of Shakespeare, who naturally gets a good mention in the book. The George Inn is still a working pub today, and justifiably it is a great lure for tourists.
The narrative smoothly moves forward and it is quite striking how the Great Fire of London on 2nd September 1666 (which has just recently been
marked in the capital) caused such devastation, described by various chroniclers of the time, how the terrible was very much part of the fabric of literary London of the time. This is followed by chapters full of more great names right up to the modern day.
Charming nuggets of the lives of the good and great have been selected throughout to add a real human dimension to what is essentially a chronicle of writers in the city. There is Pepys showering a maid with amorous intent in St Dunstan’s Church, and culinary ruminations on a kickshaw (a dish so changed by the cookery that it can scarcely be known), JM Barry writing in Bayswater about the Barrys, whose house was actually in Bloomsbury. And so it continues: Raymond Chandler, Joe Orton, Byron, Shelley, Lenin, Agatha Christie, Dorian Grey, the list never really ends….The book is divided into sections, so it easy to dip in and out and read at leisure, and just soak up a particular period or theme.
Whilst in the capital myself I was struck by how many areas were of note and having read this book, it made me look around the city in a slightly new and different way…..
Walking down Marchmont Street I visualised the odd ménage a trois between Lytton Strachey, Vanessa Bell and Virginia Woolf of the Bloomsbury Group (who were generally very free with their amorous liaisons). As I walked through Gordon Square I thought of Virginia Woolf, cited as belittling her neighbour Katherine Mansfield whilst they lived on that square. However, that was nothing compared to George Bernard Shaw and H G Wells when they decided to lock horns. I was really struck by how undermining the culture of the literati at that time was, scoring points at the expense of others and royally sticking the verbal knife into competitors and friends, just to get the upper hand. But then I reflected, is it much different today in politics today? Prime Minister’s Questions? Clinton versus Trump? It’s not an attractive way of being, and am baffled that people still do it. But I digress…
“Drinking and literature in London have always gone together” and as such El Vino in Fleet Street is described as an institution enjoyed by G K Chesterton (whose Father Brown series is set around London); and Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese has been a draw for several centuries (however, no-one ever seems to mention that this esteemed institution was once a brothel as well, and the only reason I know about that is because I have read an academic paper on the wonderful wall tiles that were discovered there demonstrating in relief (no pun intended) the various positions available to clients).
Not of course forgetting Paddington Bear who trotted around London and longed to be an assistant in Fortnum and Mason’s Marmalade Department (unfortunately that department doesn’t exist in real life, although the “Home of the Hamper” on Piccadilly certainly does very much exist).
Literary London is an interesting and eclectic read that beautifully brings together the rich heritage of London writing life.
Tina for the TripFiction Team
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We have 3 copies of Literary London in our GIVEAWAY, which ends at midnight on 14th October (UK ONLY). Copies kindly donated by the Publishers Michael O’Mara Books and will be despatched direct to winners from their office. To enter, just leave a comment below naming your all time favourite London Attraction. It’s as simple as that! 3 winners will be picked from the hat on the morning of 15th October.
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED
Please wait...
We have chosen three winners from the hat
Claire OS
Paula C
Jenny H
We will contact you individually
Thank you to everyone who took part!!
Houses of Parliament – absolutely stunning building
For me it’s got to be Harrods, there is something kind of magical about it, especially at Christmas and I love the Dianna monument there is no better tribute to the people’s princess. Xx
Hampstead Heath – love the views of the city and the fact that when I’m there I can picture London as it must have been in the past when it was just a series of villages connected by open space and woodland.
The River Thames, it all its moods! 🙂
River Thames cruise…..amazing x
The central beauty of Westminster Bridge,with Big Ben and Houses of Parliament at my back, facing the iconic London Eye across The Thames, with the backdrop of the South Bank housing the eclectic National Theatre. Day or night, it’s Westminster Bridge for me.
I was just in London this summer and loved wandering through the Sherlock Holmes museum on Baker Street.
My favourite place is Westminster Bridge. The views are glorious at any time of day but especially at night. An iconic London spot, full of memories.
I love St Paul’s Cathedral. Whichever direction you approach it from and whatever time of day, it is always magical.
What a precious post! Will save it up for memorable moments on my next trip! I would have to say…the Thames and its bridges. I think I’ll always find myself heading in that direction…
Well, it’s been many years since I was in London, but I did love the view of the Houses of Parliament and the river. I think I’m due for a visit!!
I love the London Eye
I love The British Library – great exhibitions and lots of books!
the London eye xxx
Guys hospital colonnade – happy memories!
The Natural History Museum.
The Houses Of Parliament
The history and scene of so much, good and bad!
Oh London Zoo for sure! I need to go and see the tiger cubs that aren’t cubs any more!
My favourite is HMS Belfast, moored across the river from the Tower.
I have yet to visit but would like to see the natural history museum
I love Tower Bridge! The views are incredible!
Victoria & Albert Museum – love the whole place – so much to see & all so different.
Choices, choices. I love the British Library and the Science Museum
My all-time favourite London attraction is the River Thames. I could watch it forever & still not have had enough of it! 🙂
Definitely the Tower. Such rich, amazing history.
Well, I think the British museum.
It’s difficult to choose! One that I really enjoyed was watching the bridge open from the glass floor in Tower Bridge!
The views down the Thames were awesome too!
The National Gallery, I never tire of looking for my favourite paintings
The Queen’s Theatre is my favourite as every time I see Les Miserables I just love it!
Love the Tower of London
The beautiful Great Court at the British Museum – I’m in awe every time I see it.
The British Museum – fascinating place
It must be the London eye as I got engaged on it!!
British Museum for me. Such a wonderful atmosphere!
Kensington Palace. I was – and still am – a huge fan of Princess Diana and I loved touring the palace where she lived.
London Eye as you get to see all the famous landmarks
Madame Tussauds – all good fun!
Love to explore The National History Museum in Kensington, its like visiting an elderly relative, I remember going with my parents when I was very young and spent many a day dragging my three children around, they love it too really 🙂
The Tower of London. Mostly because it is almost 1000 years old.
I just love visiting London There is not really one place that I could say is my favourite but I do enjoy visiting independent book shops and coffee shops
The view across the Millenium Bridge and the Thames to St Paul’s Cathedral.
Its got to be the fireworks on the Themes on New years eve – Beautiful