Georgian London: Into the Streets

by Lucy Inglis

In Georgian Into the Streets, Lucy Inglis takes readers on a tour of London's most formative age - the age of love, sex, intellect, art, great ambition and fantastic ruin. Travel back to the Georgian years, a time that changed expectations of what life could be. Peek into the gilded drawing rooms of the aristocracy, walk down the quiet avenues of the new middle class, and crouch in the damp doorways of the poor. But watch your wallet - tourists make perfect prey for the thriving community of hawkers, prostitutes and scavengers. Visit the madhouses of Hackney, the workshops of Soho and the mean streets of Cheapside. Have a coffee in the city, check the stock exchange, and pop into St Paul's to see progress on the new dome.This book is about the Georgians who called London their home, from dukes and artists to rent boys and hot air balloonists meeting dog-nappers and life-models along the way. It investigates the legacies they left us in architecture and art, science and society, and shows the making of the capital millions know and love today.'Read and be amazed by a city you thought you knew' Jonathan Foyle, World Monuments Fund'Jam-packed with unusual insights and facts. A great read from a talented new historian' Independent'Pacy, superbly researched. The real sparkle lies in its relentless cavalcade of insightful anecdotes . . . There's much to treasure here' Londonist'Inglis has a good ear for the outlandish, the farcical, the bizarre and the macabre. A wonderful popular history of Hanoverian London' London Historians

Genres: History, Nonfiction, London, Georgian, Historical, British Literature, Research

419 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 5, 2012

Reviews

[Marguerite Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 starts. Excellent stuff. London, district by district, with lots of lovely anecdotes and funny stories ad interesting facts. Exactly my kind of book, and what's more, the kind of book that works on loads of levels, whether you're a history buff or not. It's nicely written, it's witty, and it's cohesive, working its way from the innards of the city out. It's the kind of book you can dip in and out of, or you can read in a big gulp (I did a mixture of both). It's great research, it's fab for pointing you in the right direction if you want to know more, and it's full of interesting little snippets that stick with you. Really enjoyed this.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can't read a better summing up of Georgian London. Divided up into the single city parts of London you experience the most interesting characters, politicians and events. On every single page you feel that the author is really interested in what she writes and she does a marvelous job. I found some things I didn't know before and visited several locations depicted in the book. Great recommendation and must read for every London fan!

[Sophie Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wasn't what I was expecting, but it was still a very interesting read for the most part. Based on the description I thought it would be more about the physical spaces, but instead it was more about the people who inhabited them, with some general description of the neighborhoods and what they were like (and, in turn, what has happened to them in modern times). There were many interesting anecdotes about these people. My one complaint was that it felt uneven at times in pace and proportion.

[Rachel Knowles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had heard lots of good comments about this book and therefore sat down to read it with high expectations. I have to say that I was disappointed. This was probably my fault rather than the author's. The book claimed to be about Georgian London and so I rashly assumed that the period covered would be 1714 to 1830, but found it was very biased toward the early Georgians and included quite a few quotes from Samuel Pepys who died before the Georgians even made it to the throne. My disappointment aside, Inglis painted some good pictures of early Georgian London and included lots of anecdotes that brought the narrative to life.

I will read it again at some point, and maybe with the correct expectations of what the book contains, I will find it more satisfying.

[Brian Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating book on the swiftly emerging metropolis of London from the late 1600s through the Regency era. Eminently readable, Inglis organizes the book by neighborhoods, literally beginning at the top of the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral and emanating outwards in an expanding spiral in the counterclockwise direction, covering the central areas of London and Westminster, then south of the Thames, east London, and finally to northern London, with Hampstead and Highgate. She covers the neighborhoods and their primary features and attractions, with prominent social details along the way. Essential for those who love the city of London and/or the era of the 18th century, when London emerged into the city that remains primarily the same today (despite the Blitz and modernization).

[fonz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

Llegué al blog de Lucy Inglis, "Georgian London" por movidas de una traducción (un cariñoso recuerdo al simpático espectáculo del "bear-baiting") y acabé perdiendo la tarde zascandileando entre sus anécdotas sobre la vida cotidiana en el Londres Georgiano, la Ilustración Británica, periodo que abarcaría más o menos desde finales del XVII hasta principios del XIX, una era de estabilidad y expansión en la que Inglaterra se modernizaría, se ampliarían los horizontes intelectuales, se relajarían las costumbres puritanas, se daría a luz a la Revolución Industrial, el país y su capital crecerían de forma espectacular y se afianzará un poderoso Imperio colonial que dominaría el mundo durante la época Victoriana hasta casi la II GM. Inglis acabó convirtiendo el blog en un libro, y dado que estas cosas de la microhistoria, o historia social, contadas de forma distendida e informal me gustan más que a un tonto un teclado, me hice con él.

Tras una introducción para ubicarnos en coordenadas históricas, temporales y espaciales, la obra se desarrolla por barrios, es decir, se estructura el libro por zonas de Londres, desde el centro hasta las afueras (según la distribución urbana de la época). Una breve descripción del entorno y las gentes que lo habitaban, personajes emblemáticos de la zona, el desarrollo de actividades típicas del lugar (mercados, hospitales, palacios de justicia, artesanos, teatros, zonas de cruising, etc) y anécdotas diversas en las que la autora se esfuerza por resalta el papel de la mujer, habitualmente obviado en los libros de historia. El resultado es una obra muy amena que teje un tapiz atractivo, detallado y colorido (esto sí que es "worldbuilding" como Dios manda), pero cuya virtud deviene en defecto, es decir, al tomar naturaleza de anecdotario y esquivar una progresión temporal de la evolución de la ciudad en conjunto, o establecer algún tipo de tesis o concepto general que construir más allá de una panorámica de la urbe, las anécdotas acaban por resultar algo superficiales, llega un momento en que resbalan por tu cerebro sin una estructura que las confiera la consistencia necesaria para que calen en la memoria (algo parecido a lo que ocurría con otro libro de premisa muy interesante surgido de un blog, el "Daily Rituals, How the Artists Work", de Mason Currey. Y que también le pasa un poco al entretenidísimo "En casa. Una breve historia de la vida privada", de Bill Bryson). Es el lector el que ha de realizar el esfuerzo de extraer conclusiones, porque hay ideas muy interesantes; la reacción de los londinenses ante la inmigración irlandesa, el valor del trabajo, el abolicionismo, el papel de la mujer o los homosexuales, las casas de huérfanos (un capítulo muy emotivo, el que más, junto al breve relato sobre Thomas De Quincey y las prostitutas que lo acompañaban) o los hospitales para enfermos mentales. O instituciones como las "workhouses", una red de seguridad para gente sin recursos, muy adelantada a su tiempo, que decaería en la época victoriana por un cambio en la mentalidad social, ya saben, ayudar a los pobres los convierte en vagos y dependientes y "no con mi dinero". Y es que no hemos inventado nada.

Otra tendencia de la obra es que se ve más atraída por lo morboso que por lo estrictamente cotidiano. No tengo nada en contra, siendo yo también especialmente aficionado a lo escabroso y guarro, y comprendiendo que las anécdotas morbosas son más divertidas que leer que el día a día de un contable, pero a veces, como en el caso de la infancia, si he echado en falta un punto de vista más "cotidiano" y normal, más allá de los abusos, la orfandad o la muerte deshollinando chimeneas. También soy consciente de que en una visión tan amplia de una ciudad tan compleja no da para meter todo. Por cierto, hablando de morbo, un poco cortarrollos que en los sex-shops de la época (muchos regentados por mujeres) sólo se vendiesen condones y pornografía, me hubiera gustado un tratamiento más amplio del asunto de la juguetería sexual de la época.

De todas formas resulta una obra entretenida que incluso se las apaña para resultar emotiva en varios momentos, siempre bajo la idea de que la naturaleza (y las actividades e intereses) del ser humano permanecen inalterables a través de los siglos, que lo local es también universal y que sólo conociendo y entendiendo el pasado, podremos comprender el presente y pensar el futuro.

[Kinga · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this look into life in London during the Georgian era. The book's chapters focus on each of the neighbourhoods or areas of London and offer a really good insight into the notable residents, the jobs and businesses of the are, as well as, a great description of the geography and how it changed over time. A lovely, accessible and informative read.

[Christina Dudley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This interesting history of London stretches really from the 17th century into mostly the mid-18th, but there were plenty of interesting bits which someone could turn into good book plots and settings, like the poor free black man from Boston whose physique the artists so admired that they tried to make plaster molds of him and nearly killed him because he couldn't breathe as the plaster hardened. Or all the working-class people and artisans in Marylebone, or Keats dying of consumption while he fingered the marble Fanny Brawne gave him. I had to make constant reference to an 1805 map as I went along, since so much of what Inglis covers is buried under the modern metropolis.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating, and very readable. As I felt like my understanding of British history had a big gap between the Tudors and Queen Victoria, this definitely filled in some of the holes.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating look at the development of London in the Georgian period, packed with details and anecdotes featuring familiar characters from history.

[Kt Wakeling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written with nice little anecdotes about the time

[Simmi249 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give 20 stars, if I could!! brilliant book which has made me love London even more.

[Adrian]

Continuously interesting social history of era that encompassed the 18th century and a bit more on either side. Inglis tracks business, recreation and the arts parish by parish and often street by street until she has covered the entire city. At the start of this period London accommodated stockyards on its fringes and housed wild animals at the Tower of London. But it grew in size and sophistication. Huegenot immigration from France bolstered the silk and weaving trades, coffee houses boomed, hospitals and the Bank of England and British Museum were established. Prostitution prospered and footpads waylaid transport on dark roads. An odd mixture of brutality (the pillory) and compassion such as the founding of the humane society existed side by side. Social history- it can't be beat.

[Lina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant book on the history of London. There are things I didn't even know about, things I learned from watching period dramas, and things I don't even give a damn about. Yet the writing style was very easy to get through and interesting to read about these stories. Nice touch to end it with Keats! :)

[Lady Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not far of finishing it, so far I am loving it. I feel like the author has invited me to step on a tour with her whilst she regales me with the history of London. So far I haven't wanted to get off!

[!Tæmbuŝu]

Reviewed by The Independent (11 Oct 2013)

[Ken Sampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

[2015] Lucy Inglis has launched her writing career in spectacular style with this - her first book. She writes relatively short accounts of the people, places and events in areas of London with such energy and attention to detail that the scenes jump off the page. Wonderful evocations of how each village grew, expanded and changed over this time. Her meticulous research and simple, clear writing style engrosses you page after page. She captures the villages that thrived for hundreds of years before being subsumed into the metropolis and disappeared beneath the streets and tenements that grew up everywhere. Literally on every page intimate details of Londoner's lives and events that have been brought to life from obscure records.

I loved this book and felt as if I was there in Georgian London walking around, watching, listening and even smelling what was unfolding - Inglis has a remarkable ability and should be congratulated. She chooses her areas with care - The City, Westminster, Soho, Charing Cross, Mayfair, Marylebone, The Thames, Southwark & Lambeth, Spitalfields, Whitechapel and Stepney, Hackney and Bethnal Green and ends with Islington, Hampstead and Highgate. Some well chosen pictures are placed in two sections.

Remarkable social and local history. My only three areas of criticism (which is very much nit-picking because I loved the book) is the old maps were printed too small to be readable, the last section on Hampstead and Highgate focused almost exclusively on famous individuals who lived there as opposed to the places themselves - almost I felt as if she was running out of steam and the big issue for me (and I acknowledge my subjectivity here - having a south London connection) was why when her premise is that the 'out-lying villages become part of the the conurbation of London' does she not also look south of the river - Deptford is not mentioned, Greenwich gets a cursory note and other villages - Camberwell, Lewisham, etc are ignored. That aside this is a fantastic book and a great enjoyable read.

[Keith Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining and eclectic survey of Georgian London, which reveals the fascinating history of our capital city and the start of its transformation in the 18th century into the modern bustling, crowded metropolis of today. The book sheds light on many places, highways and by-ways that are still part of Londoners everyday experience, and makes you want to walk these Georgian streets again armed with fresh eyes and insights. The more you look at the recent past, the more you realise that fundamentally nothing has changed, the concerns of 18th century life and its people map onto our present day issues and frailties, human nature being what it is. This was a time of great change, of social and economic upheaval, of a nation moving forward with energy and confidence, which the book succeeds in bringing vividly to life.

[Marianna Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've really lagged reading this book, but it wasn't because it was boring. It's really informative, full of fascinating facts, depicted in a light, humorous, anecdotal way, and well worth reading.

I have always found reading about the development of London into quite such a monstrous city rather appalling - the way it swalllowed up the nearby villages and sourrounding countryside one by one - Hackney, Hampstead, Chiswick, Brentford, Isleworth, Richmond: but the way that earlier growth is depicted here does make a fascinating account.

All sorts of famous personalities are mentioned in this book, and the various poupulations of the city.
Invaluable too for anyone interested in writing about the eighteenth century.

[Bookworm10001 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book some time ago, but it has proved, over time to be an extremely useful resource to dip in and out of. The author has an informative, but easy to read style and has clearly done her research. The layout is great, if you know little of London, she focusses on different areas of the capital and describes beautifully the changes that took place. It covers all social classes whereas many, focus on the upper classes of the period. My only very tiny criticism and it is tiny is that the title is a little misleading as it covers the period from the Restoration through to the early Victorian, but that said, it’s a cracking read and worthy of 5 stars.

[FL]

I bought this book for the purpose of learning more about development of the West End, which took place throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. Unfortunately, most of this volume is not concerned with the establishment and growth of the areas for which each chapter is titled but rather particular events that occurred there and stories of their residents. This does not interest me so much. Indeed, my favorites were the Thames, Southwark, East London, and Hampstead chapters—those more focused on the places rather than the people.

[LOVEROFBOOKS · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I came back to read the reviews after starting and stopping this one several times. I see now it was started as blog posts, which probably explains why it feels so disjointed and haphazard. It doesn't flow, so I have decided it's a keeper, filled with some interesting info, that would best be kept as a reference book for when I need to look up info about certain areas.

It's obvious the author knows her subject, and there are a few drawings/photos in the book.

[Ebony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting & full of fun anecdotes about the era. I liked the idea of the chapter layout conceptually, although I found it quite difficult to navigate being somewhat unfamiliar with London's districts. I really think that in text references to the sources used when telling anecdotes would have really helped the book. I was quite disappointed not to be able to hunt them down! Overall an entertaining read & especially great for stories to tell about the period.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent look at the history of London in the Georgian Era. This starts with the Great Fire of London and tracks the changes and development of the city through to Victoria. This details both the history of each neighbor of London as well as some of the more interesting characters that lived there. Exceeding informative while also being entertaining.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written tour through late 18th and early 19th century London! Many interesting people, places and stories abound. Also thoughtfully illustrated with period maps and engravings. It did jump around a lot, but never claimed to be a straight narrative, so I enjoyed the paths this book led me on. A good read for people interested in how life was led in Georgian London!

[Kayla Tornello · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is packed full of information about Georgian London. The author did a good job of dividing the information up by different areas of London. The information was a mix of personal stories and a broader focus. The book also described how these areas changed both before and after the Georgian period. I would definitely recommend this book for any history lover!

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book tells the story of London in the 18th century, neighborhood by neighborhood. It is obviously well-researched and well-written, but it was a little hard to follow for someone unfamiliar with London.

[Cameron Paterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A colourful collage

A very vivid tour of a still developing and frequently semi-rural London between the late 17th and early 19th Centuries, packed with colourful details. It is a period of history I knew little about and I learnt a lot

[Jack Bates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating exploration of a time of immense change

There's always more to learn about London, in all its messy, noisy glory. This is a well-written and carefully researched book with an excellent balance of beauty, wonder, and unpleasantness.

[Madeleine McLaughlin]

Fantastic

This well researched book will tell you a lot about Georgian London. Full of wonderful stories that make the era come alive, this is a history that should not be missed by students of the past.