London cover art

London

The Biography, Street Life and the People

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London

By: Peter Ackroyd
Narrated by: Simon Callow
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About this listen

 Ackroyd portrays London from the time of the druids to the beginning of the twenty-first century, noting magnificence in both epochs, but this is not a simple chronological record. It is a comprehensive account, animated by Ackroyd's concern for the close relationship between the present and the past as well as by what he describes as the peculiar "echoic" quality of London whereby its texture and history actively affect the lives and personalities of its citizens. London is perhaps the most important study of the city ever written, and confirms Ackroyd's status as what one critic has called "our age's greatest London imagination". Street Life and the People vividly describes the everyday activities and concerns of Londoners. Particular areas of interest include customs, food, drink, entertainment, sex, crime, and punishment.©2000 Peter Ackroyd (P)2004 Random House Audiobooks Europe

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Critic reviews

"Peter Ackroyd was born to write the biography of London....A brilliant book" ( Sunday Telegraph)
All stars
Most relevant  
Interesting, though given the subject matter - the life of the poor in the great city - inevitably repetitive. From Roman times to the twenty first century the association of poverty with crime, sexual exploitation , and punishment are described using the words and experiences of contemporary witnesses. An interesting survey of a never changing reality which includes some curious changes in attitudes and tolerance through the period.

Always with us

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Very detailed and comprehensive. Simon Callow is great, but I'd hoped it would start at the very beginning of London and work more chronologically to present day. It seemed to focus more on 17thC and 18thC.

Comprehensive, detailed

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Heavy going at times. Masses of detail. Interesting background and current biography of The Big Smoke!

Drenched in Detail

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Callows splendid voice carries the story,excellent book the snippets of London history are intriguing,highly recommend.

Excellent

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I suppose a full biography of London would be an encyclopedia so Ackroyd does a magnificent job in somehow painting a vivid picture of London over its many centuries of life. His rythm, words and structure are, as usual, masterful.
Although the narrator has a passionate and beautiful voice, some words were lost under breathes and run-offs.

Short and Sweet

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Peter Ackroyd's history of London is just enthralling but each volume is shorter than it needs to be. Simon Callow seems a perfect choice for narrator as he was for the shakespearian volumes. A learned and listenable set well worth the time but a touch expensive to get the lot.

As expected

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The combination of writing and reading pulls me into the smells and excitements, the horrors and traumas of London as a great city over the years. . Simply stunning!

The research writing and reading are simply brilliant

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A brilliant book in its printed form, this measly offering appears to be just a few of its chapters. Very very disappointing and definitely not worth the money. I've never come across this before on Audible. You have been warned!

Not the book. Less than 3 hours

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If I had realized this was only a snippet of the entire book I wouldn't have bought it. Why cut the book up when it's such a famous book? Tight.

Why is this so short?

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I expected an honest exploration (maybe even a celebration?) of historical London street life. Instead the author was perversely fixated on squalor, crime and death. The massage: "pre-modern London was bad and thankfully it, and it's people, are now gone."

Not good. Seek an alternative history of London.

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