Dickens's Victorian London: 1839-1901

by Alex Werner, Tony Williams

Major tie-in to the Museum of London's largest ever exhibition, celebrating the 200th anniversary of Dickens' birth.
 
Over 200 stunning archive photographs, most of which have never been published before, illustrate this mesmerising guide to Victorian London seen through the eyes of Charles Dickens. Setting Dickens against the city that was the backdrop and inspiration for his work, it takes the reader on a memorable and haunting journey, discovering the places and subjects which stimulated his imagination.
 
Here are captivating photographs of famous landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square and Westminster Abbey, alongside coaching inns, the Thames before the Embankment was built, the construction of the Metropolitan Underground Line, the docklands that studded the river and the many villages that make up London today.
 
Authoritatively written and beautifully illustrated, this book will appeal to anyone who loves this beguiling city and wants to explore it as it was in Dickens' day.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, London, Victorian, Research

288 pages, Hardcover

First published February 28, 2012

Reviews

[Matilda · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I have read lots of books about the Victorian era, I had never read a coffee table book filled with hundreds of pictures in it.
The introduction was a bit long and rambling about how Dickens is amazing, but then the pictures, and the explanations associated with them were excellent!
I did not exactly imagined the Victorian London the way the pictures shown it and I learned lots of things.
Some captions are a little meh (some things I could have written in a bad essay "In the foreground we can see to man standing. Next to them we can see a flowergirl, blabla.").

I would love to read other books about the Victorian era in this format.

[Giuliana Fenwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

DEVOURED this page by delicious page after reading “The Five” and “The doll’s Factory”.

I could see and feel the latter two books so much but now I can hear, taste and smell them too.
Just fabulous !!

[Amolhavoc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book with incredible pictures, made me very nostalgic for a largely-vanished place I never knew. Big shout-out to the MoL's photographic curators (and conservators, obvs).

[LimesRickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw that my favourite Dickens expert Dr Tony Williams was co-author of this book, I knew it was going to be first-rate and I was right. Accurate and interesting information given in addition to the many fascinating photos of the era.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read on Charles Dickens's London with good narrative and lots of pictures taken during his lifetime so you can actually see London as to how it looked thru his eyes. Interesting facts on the slums, marketplaces, building of the world's oldest subway system, shipping & commerce and all that made London what it was in Victorian England. Dickens was 25 years old when Victoria became Queen so he lived during some of London's most exciting times. Photographs of his famous friends are also included with a short narrative on how he knew them all. There is also a picture of his grave in Westminster Abbey, in Poet's Corner, which looks pretty much like it does today, having just stood there two weeks ago!

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is meant for history buffs who delight in poring over old photographs, of London in particular, to glean tidbits about life in the past. And, for Dickens buffs who delight not only in his writing but study his craft of describing characters, events, and places so vividly that photos only confirm what the mind already pictured. I am both. I loved it.

[Rebecca tedder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whilst I am not a major fan of Dickens, this was a wonderful little adventure through the streets of London in Victorian times.

From Industry to the slums, the railways to the then present day Landmarks, this is the London I am intrigued by.

Great for anyone wanting to get a little history lesson on the Big Smoke.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading and learning about Victorian London so when I read about this book in the Guardian I decided I had to buy it!
It's chock full of great photographs of London all taken during the lifetime of Charles Dickens. It's a great coffee table style book that I will always treasure.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent photographic history of haunts featured in Dicken's books. A must read for any history or Dickens fan. I am hoping to see the exhibition sometime this year after reading this.