A history of London

by Robert Gray

Here is an engaging account of the growth of one of the most magical cities in the world. In these pages, alive with information and anecdote, the author provides a succinct and entertaining summary of London's fascinating history from the tiny Roman foundation to the metropolitan monster that now sprawls a full forty miles from its ancient heart. Including maps and diagrams, this book has been written especially with the enquiring visitor in mind.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, London, Cities

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

LCCN permalink: http://lccn.loc.gov/nb2012004514

Rolls on the rocks, 1971: |b t.p. (Robert Gray)
BL letter from author, pre-20 Oct. 1988 |b (Robert Archibald Speir Gray, born 12 Feb. 1942)
The writers directory 1994-96 - (Robert (Archibald Speir) Gray, born 1942; genres: history and biography; lists works, incl. "A history of London", "Cardinal Manning", "The king’s wife")

Reviews

[Paul Bernstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating, an amazing history written in a compelling way. I was given this when I first moved to London, and glad I waited 5 years to read it now having seen so much of the city. Lots of interesting anecdotes, but a couple of bigger ideas really got me:

First, the image of an ever-resilient city. The fateful sight of St. Paul’s surviving the Blitz – mirroring plagues, fires and trials since Roman times – was moving and somehow captures that tenacious essence that’s so uniquely “London”.

Second, the hilarious lack of central authority, showing just how much London is a disorganised puzzle assembled by 2000 years of private individuals. From medieval property rights preventing the City from being redesigned after the great fire, to the Underground being constructed line-by-line by enterprising capitalists, it paints a picture of an evolving city in which all passing visitors add something – from the royals, to the mobs.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like one of those 1,000-page James Michener novels, this history of London begins with ancient prehistory, with the formation of the River Thames, and concludes in the late 1970s, which is when the book was published. The early chapters are more archaeology than history, and are actually more interesting because of that. As we move through the centuries, it becomes clear that this is, more than anything, a story of how London developed physically, its streets, its neighborhoods, its architecture and, eventually, its railroad and subway lines. I can see this book being far more interesting to someone who has lived in or worked in London and knows the city from the perspective of someone who has wandered widely through the city. (I've spent eight days of my life in London, four days in 1994 and four more in 2000, so I don't really fall into this category.)

Sometimes the book gets bogged down in details, but overall it's a fairly interesting story. The description of the plague and the Great Fire from the 1660s was one of the better chapters. The author also displays, at times, a bit of a dry wit which livens the text a little bit.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Covers pre-historic London through the Post-War II years. There are plenty of details provided, and lots of first-hand accounts. However, it never gets too complicated. If you want a book that helps you to understand the development of London, and its importance in English history this book will be a good choice. There is much information about architecture, City government, relations with the Crown, and relations with the rest of the nation.

[Charley Stephens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Highly informative and very engaging in parts the book can get very bogged in detail. Would love to see a reissue with an afterword to bring us up to modern times. Robert Gray may be happy to know that the city is once again thriving and at the apex of great international cities.

[Persephone Abbott · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last two chapters get a bit bogged down by transport.

[Silvia Frassineti · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked but I found some of Gray'opinion a little old fashion