London: The Biography by Peter Ackroyd is an ambitious and richly detailed portrait of one of the world's most famous cities. Rather than presenting London simply as a sequence of dates, rulers and architectural developments, Ackroyd treats the city almost as a living organism, tracing the recurring patterns, traditions, personalities and peculiarities that have shaped London across centuries.
London: The Biography ranges from the earliest settlement of the area through Roman, medieval, Tudor, Georgian, Victorian and modern London, exploring not only major historical events but also the everyday experiences of the people who inhabited its streets. Ackroyd examines subjects as varied as London's buildings, neighbourhoods, religion, crime, entertainment, childhood, poverty, commerce, speech, drinking culture and social customs. His thematic approach continually links different periods together, illustrating how elements of the city's character have survived despite constant rebuilding and expansion.
Extensively researched and running to more than 800 pages, this substantial volume combines urban history, social history, cultural commentary and biography of place. London: The Biography is illustrated throughout and offers both serious historical detail and highly readable anecdotes.
Peter Ackroyd is particularly associated with writing about London, and London: The Biography remains one of his best-known works on the city.
Condition - Very Good
Firmly bound hardcover with clean grey boards and bright spine lettering. Light foxing and spotting are present, particularly to the upper text-block edge and endpaper area. The dust jacket shows moderate edge and corner wear with creasing, rubbing and small areas of chipping at the extremities.
