City of London: Britain in Old Photographs

This book paints the fascinating picture of the events and people which helped shaped the city we know so well today, including the building and wartime destruction of some of its characteristic features. Focusing on the famous heart of London, most of the images date from the Edwardian period and slightly after, when London was arguably the greatest city in the world. All the famous city landmarks, such as St Paul's and the Monument, are featured, but equally remarkable are the pictures which show the development of Victorian London, such as the construction of the Victoria Embankment and the first Underground lines. Some photographs also show the destruction wrought by the Blitz and the subsequent rebuilding. Life and commerce in the City is revealed through the great variety of working premises, from the great printing houses of Fleet Street to humble shops, such as the Temple wig maker's, along with the people who worked in them. The pictures are accompanied by detailed captions filled with a wealth of historical detail. Anyone who knows the City now, or remembers how it was, will find this book both enjoyable and informative.