London has witnessed everything from pilgrimages, celebrations, acts of
heroism and moments of religious contemplation to riots, executions,
grisly murders and disastrous fires. It is a history of work and
capital, of power and exuberance, and of great creativity from a rich
host of artists and writers, Shakespeare and Dickens among them, but
also of violent crime, exploitation, loneliness and extreme hardship;
life in the poverty ridden East of the city could not be more different
than life in its opulent West End. Drawing upon extracts from
contemporary letters, diaries and memoirs of fascinating inhabitants and
visitors, this anthology by acclaimed London historian Peter Ackroyd and
Thomas Wright tells the story of the city from its earliest years up to
the present day. Here you will find Evelyn's famous account of the Great
Fire in 1666, Dickens' brilliant evocation of the Gordon Riots of 1780,
Boswell's description of the compilation of Dr. Johnson's Dictionary,
and Churchill's recollections of the Blitz. There are also less
familiar, though no less vivid, excerpts, many of which provide an
entertaining, sometimes risque, climpse into the life, customs and
morals of this great city. Modern visitors and armchair readers alike
are given a ringside view to the past and an unforgettable experience of
the essential spirit of London.
