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Loading... London Under (original 2011; edition 2012)by Peter Ackroyd (Author)
Work InformationLondon Under by Peter Ackroyd (2011)
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. A short and fun miscellany of the world under the streets of London. The book has some structure, looking at springs, rivers which have been built over, manmade tunnels, the Tube network, and underground bunkers, amongst other things, but many of Ackroyd's themes cut across the chapters. Inevitably with a book of this nature, most of the things that stick with you (well, me) are the little factoids - the London Underground has its own species of mosquito! - which end up leaving a slightly scattershot feel. But that is not really the fault of this book. Much to learn and enjoy! ( ) This was interesting, particularly from a scatology perspective, but it felt a bit all over the place. You could feel that the author was very passionate about the subject of this unseen part of London but then it just felt like you were running after them as they pointed at this and then this and then this and then that!!! Granted, it is a very small book to try to tackle such a long and varied history. It has made me want to look up some other more detailed books, chronologically organized perhaps, to get a fuller picture of the subject. This is a very good book about all of the incredible tunnels, drains, rivers, etc. underneath London. The final chapter about all the various secret government tunnels was my favorite. I would have given this book four stars if it contained maps. The old illustrations were very nice, but maps would have really helped visualize the complex systems underground in London.
Ackroyd (or his editor) has reined in the whimsical generalisations that mar his earlier books, with not a single utterance of that Ackroydian cliché: “London has always been…”. (Fans of Ackroyd bingo will also note a significant diminution of ‘noisome’ occurrences, with a concomitant increase in ‘meets its quietus’.) This is a short but punchy book. You can easily read it in two sittings. If you’re already well-versed in hypogeal London, you may want to wait for the paperback. For those looking for a highly readable introduction, plumb any depth to get hold of a copy. It’s the second half of “London Under” that tells this story of the Tube — the true reward of the book — but Ackroyd makes readers work for it.
A short study of everything that goes on under London--from original springs and streams and Roman amphitheaters to Victorian sewers, gang hideouts, and modern tube stations. No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)914.2104History and Geography Geography and Travel Geography of and travel in Europe England and Wales Greater London TravelLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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