Perfect for book lovers and vacationers alike, this book is packed with interesting facts about every corner of London. The book is divided into sections geographically, which makes it useful to plan outings if you are trying to visit many different sites efficiently. It also makes the narrative flow as it begins with a story about a location on one street, then takes you around the corner for the next anecdote. The stories might be about which house Charles Dickens lived in, what pub a certain author liked to frequent, or where a particular author is buried. Stories range from the Soho of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde to the statue of Paddington Bear at the train station. There are entries on the British Library, the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (the recipient of the royalties from Peter Pan), and the University of London's Senate House (inspiration for the Ministry of Truth in Orwell's 1984). Photos capture sites, statues, memorial plaques, and headstones - all with explanatory captions.
If you, or someone you know, will be traveling to London - get a copy to take on the trip. If you cannot go right away, then you can enjoy being an armchair traveler as you read the stories of affairs, elopements, feuds, and friendships (of the authors and their characters). You may want to keep a highlighter or some Post-It flags handy to mark locations you would love to visit.
I read an advance copy provided by the publisher for review purposes.
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