Violent London: 2000 Years of Riots, Rebels and Revolts

by Clive Bloom

The complex and fascinating nature of London has provided fertile ground for bestselling social histories by writers like Roy Porter and Peter Ackroyd. For the first time a book explores the capital's secret history - the underground world of radicals and subversives from Boudicca and Wat Tyler to the anti-globalization riots of the Chartists, Suffragettes, Mosleyites and IRA. Violent London is an account of political activism expressed in street fighting and slum warfare, assassinations and bombings. The main characters are demagogues and democrats, lunatics and libertarians, bigots and social revolutionaries. The story traces the growth of London as a capital adn as a major city, following the people who live, work, demonstrate, fight and die in its violent byways. With its strong characters and dramatic narrative, Violent London is a riveting examination of past and present conflict, revealing a hidden thread in London's living history.

Genres: History, London, Nonfiction, Politics

400 pages, Hardcover

First published April 16, 2004

Reviews

[Karlo Tasler]

If you are interested in radical groups through the London’s history, this book is for you. This book is also for you if you are interested in the development of London since the early years all the way to modern affairs. London is a beast, and, living there, many times I asked myself a question: “What foundation is this city built on?” This book gave me some answers. As far as I’m concerned, the fun part started in the early 19th century as capitalism and nationalism were coming into life and changing the ways people had perceived the society. The answer was, of course, rebellion.

[Lauren Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book got stronger as I went. I couldn't make it out at the beginning--the chronology jumped a lot. But later, though Bloom does reference other periods, it doesn't get confusing. Keep in mind that this is not a book about violent crime but about (as the subtitle says) "riots, rebels and revolts."