What do you think?
Rate this book
London: A History
Idiosyncratic, comprehensive, and impeccably researched, this master work by a revered artist unveils one of the world’s most famous cities from pre-history to the present, in all its epic glory.
Imagine a kaleidoscopic view of a storied city—from the remote past to today—brought to life in magnificent illustrations. Laura Carlin’s breathtaking artwork animates thousands of years of London history, beginning long before there were cities—when dinosaurs roamed the Earth—and ending with the 2022 death of a beloved monarch. Teeming panoramic spreads track the Ice, Stone, and Bronze Ages; waves of Romans, Anglo Saxons, Vikings, and Normans; and witch hunts and wars both civil and global. From the Plague and the Great Fire of the 1600s to the world wars of the twentieth century, from the lives of the royals to those of housemaids and factory workers, this loving tribute to London through the ages thoughtfully curates passages from historical accounts, poems, and the private diaries of luminaries like Samuel Pepys, Queen Victoria, Charles Dickens, and Virginia Woolf, allowing the city to speak through its famous denizens. An exquisite gift book for art lovers, history buffs, and world travelers of all ages, this rich compendium is for anyone who has fallen—or has yet to fall—under the spell of one of the world’s most bewitching cities.
Imagine a kaleidoscopic view of a storied city—from the remote past to today—brought to life in magnificent illustrations. Laura Carlin’s breathtaking artwork animates thousands of years of London history, beginning long before there were cities—when dinosaurs roamed the Earth—and ending with the 2022 death of a beloved monarch. Teeming panoramic spreads track the Ice, Stone, and Bronze Ages; waves of Romans, Anglo Saxons, Vikings, and Normans; and witch hunts and wars both civil and global. From the Plague and the Great Fire of the 1600s to the world wars of the twentieth century, from the lives of the royals to those of housemaids and factory workers, this loving tribute to London through the ages thoughtfully curates passages from historical accounts, poems, and the private diaries of luminaries like Samuel Pepys, Queen Victoria, Charles Dickens, and Virginia Woolf, allowing the city to speak through its famous denizens. An exquisite gift book for art lovers, history buffs, and world travelers of all ages, this rich compendium is for anyone who has fallen—or has yet to fall—under the spell of one of the world’s most bewitching cities.
216 pages, Hardcover
Published October 8, 2024
1 person is currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Laura Carlin
31 books18 followersLaura Carlin is the illustrator of The Iron Man by Ted Hughes, which was awarded an honorable mention in the Bologna Ragazzi Award fiction category. Her artwork has been featured in Vogue, the New York Times, and the Guardian. The Promise is her first picture book. She lives in London.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 20, 2025
This feels very much like a compilation of other people’s work, with a lot less detail than I expected and some mediocre illustrations. I know, I feel mean for saying that, but really it was so underwhelming and there was so much scope to really create something awesome here.
The book has less than a paragraph of original text for every period in time it covers - largely it looks at key events, think The Blitz or The Plague, alongside some key developmental periods for London, think Industrial Revolution to the construction of the Houses of Parliament or other political structures. These are important, interesting key events which the author recognises with their own short statement or paragraph (usually it is a line!) and then sometimes follows with extracts from other texts to provide information or further detail. It ends at Queen Elizabeth’s death, which is a shame as much has happened since but the world of publishing I am sure has a delay from consideration to publication which limits how contemporary the timeline of those events probably could have been.
The illustrations though were perhaps the most disappointing element. They are flat, messy and largely boring with limited use of colour or detail. I didn’t feel the joy or architecture of living in London was captured at all. Given this is intended for young readers, this really is disappointing.
In any case, not a book I could recommend even for older children wanting some short, sharp facts. It just wasn’t engaging at all.
ARC provided from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
The book has less than a paragraph of original text for every period in time it covers - largely it looks at key events, think The Blitz or The Plague, alongside some key developmental periods for London, think Industrial Revolution to the construction of the Houses of Parliament or other political structures. These are important, interesting key events which the author recognises with their own short statement or paragraph (usually it is a line!) and then sometimes follows with extracts from other texts to provide information or further detail. It ends at Queen Elizabeth’s death, which is a shame as much has happened since but the world of publishing I am sure has a delay from consideration to publication which limits how contemporary the timeline of those events probably could have been.
The illustrations though were perhaps the most disappointing element. They are flat, messy and largely boring with limited use of colour or detail. I didn’t feel the joy or architecture of living in London was captured at all. Given this is intended for young readers, this really is disappointing.
In any case, not a book I could recommend even for older children wanting some short, sharp facts. It just wasn’t engaging at all.
ARC provided from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
September 29, 2024
What worked: Well-researched book going over some key historical facts of London. This coffee table sized book starts 2.6 million years ago and ends with Queen Elizabeth's funeral in 2022.
Some facts I found fascinating include:
The history behind the Romans invading, settling, and suddenly leaving London.
The Vikings invading and the source behind the English nursery rhyme, "London Bridge is falling Down'.
Henry III started a royal menagerie in 1235 with all the exotic animals his foreign visitors brought. I admit, I feel bad for those animals as the conditions had to have been appalling.
Harrod's first escalator in 1898 induced excitement and ladies to be overcome by terror.
There's also mention of King Henry VIII; the women's suffragette movement in 1906; the Blitz; and the National History Museum. All the historical facts are illustrated in red, black, and gray impressionist styled drawings. Plus, there are quotations from the periods that add to this historical book.
A fun addition to any library with easy to digress facts on London history.
Some facts I found fascinating include:
The history behind the Romans invading, settling, and suddenly leaving London.
The Vikings invading and the source behind the English nursery rhyme, "London Bridge is falling Down'.
Henry III started a royal menagerie in 1235 with all the exotic animals his foreign visitors brought. I admit, I feel bad for those animals as the conditions had to have been appalling.
Harrod's first escalator in 1898 induced excitement and ladies to be overcome by terror.
There's also mention of King Henry VIII; the women's suffragette movement in 1906; the Blitz; and the National History Museum. All the historical facts are illustrated in red, black, and gray impressionist styled drawings. Plus, there are quotations from the periods that add to this historical book.
A fun addition to any library with easy to digress facts on London history.
October 15, 2024
An immersive, idiosyncratic ode to London, told through short descriptive prose passages supplemented with primary sources, all served up on a backdrop of moody watercolors. Carlin starts her London journey in the Pleistocene Epoch (although we don’t often think of cities as having pre-human origins), filling her watery page with bizarre creatures. We then move quickly through the Stone and Iron Ages, watching primitive humans engaged in hunting and gathering. In 43 CE, the Romans arrive in a hail of gray arrows, their feathers appearing as dabs of red blood. Here we also get our first glimpse of the primary sources Carlin will use, a description of the attack from Dios Cassius (211 CE-233 CE). Going forward, Carlin skips from one intriguing moment in history to the next, with each topic receiving a two page spread dominated by an inky, watercolor sketch documenting (mostly) the horrible and fascinating history of the city: the Peasant Revolt of 1381, the ascension of Mary I (Bloody Mary), bear-baiting, the Restoration (and the beheading of Oliver Cromwell), the plague, the Great Fire of 1666, and so on. Long passages from storied and also less famous Londeners help tell the tale, with Carlin selecting evocative snippets from Ovid, the Magna Carta, Samuel Pepys, William Wordsworth, Charles Dickens, Emmeline Pankhurst, and Neville Chamberlain, among others. This is an impressionistic rather than a comprehensive journey – if not every important event in the city’s long history gets a page, we also are treated to its lesser known but visually impactful events, such as the Frost Fair of 1683-84, the establishment of the Foundling Hospital in 1739, or the sudden appearance of dandies in 1794. The book moves quickly through the post WWII era, ending with the death of Queen Elizabeth in 2022. Back matter includes a few extra notes on select topics.
Carlin’s magnificent illustrations convey so much emotion and drama that it’s possible to leaf through this book without consulting the text at all and still come away with a strong sense of London’s history. Every page is full of fascinating, impressionistic details, especially the crowd scenes. When the Black Death first arrives in 1348, dark ships crowd a gray harbor and townsfolk carry on, seemingly unaware of the disease-carrying rodents skulking beneath their feet. Christmas before Cromwell is filled with music, dancing, and even a child fancifully riding a crocodile; turn the page for Christmas after Cromwell, an austere colorless affair with six people gathered around a spartan table while a bored dog languishes on the floor. Over and over again, bright smears of red over the gray drawings tell a story of violence and unrest, such as in the Gordon Riots of 1780, with threatened revolution bringing fire and looting, or buildings toppling under the relentless air campaign of the Blitz.
This book won’t be for everyone – those in search of an exacting and comprehensive history of London should look elsewhere. In addition, the primary sources can be challenging, but it’s up to the reader to decide which ones to tackle and also to figure out the connection between the source and Carlin’s narrative. But for tween, teen, and adult readers who love English history, reading this book will be an immersive and illuminating experience. Recommended for those planning a visit to the city or looking for a virtual, time-traveling trip.
Carlin’s magnificent illustrations convey so much emotion and drama that it’s possible to leaf through this book without consulting the text at all and still come away with a strong sense of London’s history. Every page is full of fascinating, impressionistic details, especially the crowd scenes. When the Black Death first arrives in 1348, dark ships crowd a gray harbor and townsfolk carry on, seemingly unaware of the disease-carrying rodents skulking beneath their feet. Christmas before Cromwell is filled with music, dancing, and even a child fancifully riding a crocodile; turn the page for Christmas after Cromwell, an austere colorless affair with six people gathered around a spartan table while a bored dog languishes on the floor. Over and over again, bright smears of red over the gray drawings tell a story of violence and unrest, such as in the Gordon Riots of 1780, with threatened revolution bringing fire and looting, or buildings toppling under the relentless air campaign of the Blitz.
This book won’t be for everyone – those in search of an exacting and comprehensive history of London should look elsewhere. In addition, the primary sources can be challenging, but it’s up to the reader to decide which ones to tackle and also to figure out the connection between the source and Carlin’s narrative. But for tween, teen, and adult readers who love English history, reading this book will be an immersive and illuminating experience. Recommended for those planning a visit to the city or looking for a virtual, time-traveling trip.
August 6, 2024
London: A History is a large, hardcover, heavy children’s book which as you might have guessed from the title is all about the history of London. Starting 2.6M – 11,700 BCE – The Pleistocene Epoch era and ending in 2022 with the death of Queen Elizabeth II, this book covers many different time periods and years.
At 216 pages and covering some 93 different events, plus extra notes, acknowledgements, etc. The book can’t really to go into any full details on each subject but there is enough information present for children to learn the basics and then hopefully they will be intrigued to learn more via other sources.
The illustrations feature heavily throughout with many being full-page. I can’t say they were to my taste but each to their own.
Overall, London: A History is a fabulous book for any child who is learning or is interested in learning about London and how it became the large bustling capital city it is today.
At 216 pages and covering some 93 different events, plus extra notes, acknowledgements, etc. The book can’t really to go into any full details on each subject but there is enough information present for children to learn the basics and then hopefully they will be intrigued to learn more via other sources.
The illustrations feature heavily throughout with many being full-page. I can’t say they were to my taste but each to their own.
Overall, London: A History is a fabulous book for any child who is learning or is interested in learning about London and how it became the large bustling capital city it is today.
September 30, 2025
It is hard to know exactly for whom this book was written -- presumably for pre-teens and teens who are interested in history, or who are particularly interested in London. However, in this reviewer's considered opinion, the illustrations will not appeal to that demographic at all. They are largely blurry, muted and, in some cases, a bit depressing. The cover illustration, featuring a red double-decker bus, is by far the most attractive picture in the book.
The information is interesting, including such quirky items as the enactment of the Gin Acts in the mid-18th century and the installation of the first elevator at Harrod's department store a century and a half later. Much of the prose is amusing and anecdotal in tone, suggesting the book might be seen as a sort of coffee-table book for the younger set.
Less blurry, more precise and colorful illustrations would have been welcome. Of course, some may enjoy Carlin's artistic style; it is largely a matter of taste.
The information is interesting, including such quirky items as the enactment of the Gin Acts in the mid-18th century and the installation of the first elevator at Harrod's department store a century and a half later. Much of the prose is amusing and anecdotal in tone, suggesting the book might be seen as a sort of coffee-table book for the younger set.
Less blurry, more precise and colorful illustrations would have been welcome. Of course, some may enjoy Carlin's artistic style; it is largely a matter of taste.
October 12, 2025
If there is one to to take away from this book, it is "Self-promotion". The British have a remarkable penchant for self-appreciation. It seems no national event, regardless of its actual scope or seriousness, is complete without an outsized, heroic title.
When a fire occurred, it was branded "The Great Fire". When the Thames suffered a period of truly spectacular foulness, "The Great Stink". One has to pause, we might call a day "great," but a truly overwhelming stench is rather the opposite, isn't it? The Industrial Revolution exhibition? Well! you guessed it right, it was simply known as "The Great Exhibition".
In the "Great" Britain, nothing is just 'fine'; everything must be Great. This tradition of pompous titles lives on so much so that even I, a small town girl from no where, got the title "The Great Destroyer" at this very land for removing the highest number of programming lines. Who's to say that isn't historic?
When a fire occurred, it was branded "The Great Fire". When the Thames suffered a period of truly spectacular foulness, "The Great Stink". One has to pause, we might call a day "great," but a truly overwhelming stench is rather the opposite, isn't it? The Industrial Revolution exhibition? Well! you guessed it right, it was simply known as "The Great Exhibition".
In the "Great" Britain, nothing is just 'fine'; everything must be Great. This tradition of pompous titles lives on so much so that even I, a small town girl from no where, got the title "The Great Destroyer" at this very land for removing the highest number of programming lines. Who's to say that isn't historic?
April 5, 2025
Laura Carlin has such a way with illustration. The crowd scenes that she undertook in this book were just marvelous and how she conveys a sense of place is stunning. I love the textures and use of negative space and could look at all the illustrations in this book for hours on end. Plus, the text itself was extremely informative to me, a rather ignorant American, as it pertains to the history of this great city. Thank you Laura Carlin for putting your work into the world. I thoroughly enjoy everything you make.
December 18, 2024
cute little dive into london history! i liked the art style with each blurb of history, but feel like it excluded some bits of history like the catholic relief act of 1778, losing the u.s. colonies, and brexit? also feel like some famous writers or authors could've been included in the narrative. then the jump from 1960s to 2022 with queen elizabeth's death was kind of wild. but learned a lot about london's older history + enjoyed this read!
May 14, 2025
This is an official review from CLEAR, a group of librarians with SWON.
Super neat book with great artwork! This is a great book to flip through because it doesn't give a super in-depth history, but it provides enough of an overview that you can imagine parts of what life would have been like in specific period of London history. I'd recommend this to reader 8 and up or to anyone interested in London's history.
Super neat book with great artwork! This is a great book to flip through because it doesn't give a super in-depth history, but it provides enough of an overview that you can imagine parts of what life would have been like in specific period of London history. I'd recommend this to reader 8 and up or to anyone interested in London's history.
July 25, 2024
I'm not sure what this book is trying to achieve. For such a chunky book is weirdly brief & concise. What is interesting that there's a period quote from said era accompanying the fact mentioned. Overall experience a bit underwhelming. Not a fan of art style either, unfortunatelly. But each to their own.
September 23, 2024
What a delight! Swooning over this book! Thick volume entertainingly detailing the history (every bit of it), of London. Mesmerizing illustrations throughout that are absolutely lovely. I would say this book is for all ages. I learned a lot and was captivated by Laura Carlin's fabulous artwork. So, so good and a must have for school and home libraries.
June 24, 2025
I was ready to give this book 5 stars, but then it jumped from 1966 to 2022 without mentioning any events that occurred between those times. It also failed to make any real mention of Britain's colonial past. While it might be a good place to start a conversation with children who are interested in Britain's past, it is most assuredly not a complete history.
December 8, 2024
Illustrated overview of the history of London for kids. The art really isn't my style and I found some of the quotes confusingly ahistorical, but this is probably a decent intro for people wanting to dip in and out of the timeline of one of the world's most influential cities.
November 22, 2025
2.5 stars: Not necessarily bad, just not really for me. I wish the author had done a bit more explaining of each topic, rather than include a quote. Many of the quotes seem like they'd be difficult for kids to comprehend, so I don't think they would have their intended effect.
June 19, 2024
E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus
January 5, 2025
Some very interesting facts but my 11 year old struggled to engage with the art or understand the quotes. So I ended up reading it. I did enjoy it but felt it needed more detail.
January 19, 2025
As it was written for children, it does a fine job of explaining some historical event. However, as an adult reader, I kept thinking about all the stuff that was skipped.
January 21, 2025
As others said, a coffee table book that ignores a lot of Britain’s colonial past and nearly 60 years (1966-2022) of rich history. Far from a complete history and/or children’s book.
September 12, 2025
A nice large illustrated book with brief writings from the time of the event (hundreds of years ago) in the perfect bite sized amount of history.
March 7, 2026
A whirlwind survey of London history all the way from prehistory to the Queen’s jubilee. On each page, there was a short description of the event, an illustration, and either a selection from a primary source or a poem about it. Even though the cover looks somewhat childish, the book is written for adults. We read this book in our study of geography, but also because we are hoping to visit England this year! I learned a lot!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews