Victorian London cover art

Victorian London

The Life of a City, 1840-1870

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Victorian London

By: Liza Picard
Narrated by: Anton Lesser
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About this listen

Like her previous books, this book is the result of the author's passionate interest in the realities of everyday life, and the conditions in which most people lived, so often left out of history books.

This period of mid-Victorian London encompasses a huge range of subjects: Victoria's wedding and the place of the royals in popular esteem; how the very poor lived, the underworld, prostitution, crime, prisons and transportation; the public utilities, Bazalgette on sewers and road design, Chadwick on pollution and sanitation; private charities, Peabody, Burdett Coutts, and workhouses; new terraced housing and transport, trains, omnibuses, and the Underground; furniture and decor; families and the position of women; the prosperous middle classes and their new shops, e.g. Peter Jones, Harrods; entertaining and servants, food and drink; unlimited liability and bankruptcy; the rich, the marriage market, taxes and anti-semitism; the Empire, recruitment and press-gangs.

The period begins with the closing of the Fleet and Marshalsea prisons and ends with the first (steam-operated) Underground trains and the first Gilbert & Sullivan. All the splendours and horrors of Victorian life will be vividly recalled.

©2005 Liza Picard (P)2005 Orion Publishing Group Ltd.
19th Century Europe Great Britain England Transportation Ireland
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Critic reviews

"Reading her book is like gazing at one of those energetic, crowded canvanses by the Victorian painter William Powell Frith." ( Evening Standard)

What listeners say about Victorian London

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Fascinating

Fascinating, enjoyable and entertaining listen.

Another ten pointless words to meet a word count minimum.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Victorian London

Good narration & an exellent insight into Victorian Social history in London - highly recomended

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Very engaging

well written and read. well researched. glad we are not living in these times. highly recommended for any social history fans.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

victorian london

this book gives a real insight to the grime of everyday life in victorian london to the extent that you can almost taste it especially the description of dogs turd used in the tanneries at bermodsy, the book drtaws you into the depths of london giving real insight into housing education and sanitation in victorian london

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What about that!

A good book with a good narrator = a good reading experience. This book has provided me with " I didn't know......" moments of discovery, further understand and most importantly I knew that moments. Would I recommend this book? Yes I would.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Puts Dickens in a very real context

This is a wonderful supplement to any reading of Victorian fiction - here is the background. Though the book depends perhaps a little too much on one or two particular sources (hence four stars, not five), this is vivacious, informative, and fascinating. It is beautifully read - Anton Lesser imparts the most complex information is a way which makes it all easy to follow.

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Fabulous as it is fascinating!

Loved every chapter, every word. Anton’s voice is softer than butter and the book is utterly absorbing. Loved it.

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Lots of information but not stuffy

The author has done a really good job in her research and presentation of Victorian London. I've listened through several times now and still hear new details that I've missed before. Lots to listen to and take on-board but it's not a stuffy book, I find it quite easy to listen to.

Narration by Anton Lesser is superb.

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Simply wonderful!

Excellent narrator - best I've heard ....

Not too much detail - enough to wet your lips.

First time I looked at Victorians since primary school. Was always put off reading around that era - TV/media overload!!!

But this book has changed my mind!

Thank you!!

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very informative loved it!

Perfect for audio book.. great informative facts and takes you back to a sometimes awful time.

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