It’s that time of year again when we all wrack our brains to think of suitable gifts to give during the festive season. If you or a loved one are planning a trip to london, or you’re a Londoner who want to delve a little deeper into our history I’d like to suggest some very worthy books.
In no particular order, here are five titles that I’ve picked up this year which would make suitable additions to your own bookshelf or travel bag:
The London Nobody Knows by Geoffrey Fletcher – originally written in 1962, this book dedicates itself to the London of the past. Many of the places described and illustrated with charming line drawings in this volume are now long gone, having been replaced by new developments in the intervening years.
London’s Lost Rivers by Paul Talling – Talling’s book studies an aspect of London that is hidden from everyday view, the many tributaries of the River Thames. Most now diverted into culverts or tunnels these waterways still flow – some directly beneath your feet! You can still find them if you know where to look and Paul’s book will tell you how…
London’s Hidden Secrets by Graeme Chesters – written in the accessible style of a travel guide, this book’s 300-odd pages will furnish you with knowledge that few Londoners possess. With descriptions and photographs of hundreds of unusual museums, buildings and open spaces you’ll never look at London in quite the same way again. There’s now also a Volume 2 available!
Murders of London by David Long – for those with an interest in the macabre and the gruesome, David Long’s latest book is ideal. Filled with shocking and sordid tales, you’ll discover the people and places associated with the capital’s most horrendous crimes.
Over The Border – The Other East End by Neil Fraser – the London 2012 Olympic Games transformed a large area of East London, but the area has been thick with history for several centuries. Exploring Stratford, West Ham, Silvertown and elsewhere this book delves into the history of the area east of the River Lea. From Joan Littlewood’s towering achievements at the Theatre Royal Stratford East to the towering temples to sewage commissioned by Joseph Bazalgette – this book has it all.
About Pete Stean
