The Story of London

An inspiring pictorial history of our capital, as rich and varied as the city itself. Brassey weaves a colourful tapestry as he traces the growth of London from a Bronze Age settlement to the present day, surviving invasion and revolt, plague, fire and rocket bombs. The cartoon-like illustrations are packed with detail and spiked with a witty commentary in speech bubbles. ‘Let’s all go down the Strand!’, chant the earliest inhabitants exploring the river’s beach. Bird’s eye views of the growing city create 3D maps, imbued with the different character of each period – the frost fairs by Old London Bridge, John Stow’s Tudor London, the elegance of Nash’s Regency era or the stench of Victorian London before the sewage system was built. Brassey ends on an upbeat note with the prospect of London celebrating its 2000th birthday, while beneath the city pigeons hop on and off underground trains. Throughout there are lots of details children will enjoy, such as the opening of Hamley’s precursor, Noah’s Ark in 1760, or the fact that Brompton Cemetery, where Beatrix Potter spent her childhood, has yielded many familiar names upon its tombstones, Peter Rabbett and Jeremiah Fisher among them. Never mind the lack of an index, just enjoy the story and hope that a children’s guide book will follow.