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This is...
This is London
A vacation in Paris inspired Miroslav Sasek to create childrens [sic] travel guides to the big cities of the world. He brought me 'This is Paris' in 1958 when I when I was publishing in London, and we soon followed up with 'This is London'. Both books were enormously successful, and his simple vision grew to include more than a dozen books. Their amusing verse, coupled with bright and charming illustrations, made for a series unlike any other, and garnered Sasek (as we always called him) the international and popular acclaim he deserved.
I was thrilled to learn that 'This is London' will once again find its rightful place on bookshelves. Sasek is no longer with us (and I have lost all contact with his family), but I am sure he would be delighted to know that a whole new generation of wide-eyed readers is being introduced to his whimsical, imaginative, and enchanting world.
I was thrilled to learn that 'This is London' will once again find its rightful place on bookshelves. Sasek is no longer with us (and I have lost all contact with his family), but I am sure he would be delighted to know that a whole new generation of wide-eyed readers is being introduced to his whimsical, imaginative, and enchanting world.
62 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1959
4 people are currently reading
399 people want to read
About the author
Miroslav Sasek
32 books78 followersMiroslav Sasek (born Miroslav Šašek) (1916-1980) was an author and illustrator from the Czech Republic. He is best known for a series of books for children titled This Is...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
September 7, 2019
I didn't like this one as much as Sasek's books about Paris and Venice. I found the text a bit dry, it seemed to jump around a bit more than the others did. The original version was written in 1959, but this updated version added a number of changes that have occurred since then.
April 12, 2024
Miroslav Sasek has produced a most charmingly illustrated 'This is London' which, first published in 1959, proved exceedingly popular and has now been updated with an additional page of notes that bring the book into the 21st century.
Apparently a holiday in Paris inspired Miroslave Sasek to write and illustrate children's travel guides to the big cities of the world. He began with 'This is Paris' and followed it up with 'This is London' and the series developed from there. The books with their informative text and distinctive illustrations were hugely successful and brought Sasek, who died in 1980, international fame.
Interestingly he begins his London volume with two dark, grey pages and tells us that 'Well, this is London'. He goes on to tell the reader not to worry because the city is only hidden in the fog a few times a year in winter! He then shows an aerial view of the city, crowded with properties and explains that (when the book was first published) 'It is the largest city in the world'; the additional notes at the rear now update that information by telling us that the honour (if that is what it is) now goes to Mumbai in India.
Policemen are the first people we encounter with their uniforms depicted so we know which one belongs to the Metropolitan Police and which one is from the City. And we learn that the City begins at the Temple Bar Memorial and that 'The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street', the Bank of England and the most important bank in the country, is in the heart of the City [I used to attend various meetings at the Bank of England and it always amazed me that, due to lack of space, the corridors had been turned into offices so in the middle of a meeting people would be passing by en route to their destination!]. I do like Sasek's portrayal of the city workers arriving for the office and then shown in their leisure wear 'at home on Sunday'.
St Paul's Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, Billingsgate fish market, the Monument and one of the oldest and smallest churches in London, St Ethelburga look splendid in Sasek's illustrations; the last named has today been restored and is open as a 'Centre for Reconciliation and Peace'. Fleet Street is depicted as the centre of the newspaper industry (updated to Canary Wharf in the notes) and in 1959 there were apparently 6000 buses in London, red ones and green ones. The latter were the Green Line coaches that took passengers into the surrounding countryside [Linda and I used to take those occasionally at weekends and armed with 'Green Line walks' we would try and negotiate our way round the countryside - it often failed and the only excuse I can offer is that we were quite young then!].
Sasek points out 'Queuing is for a Londoner a kind of sport' - I am not sure I ever found it sporting - and he goes on to say that entertaining a queue 'is for some a way to make a living'. With Buckingham Palace in mind, the various bearskins are explained, the point being that the plumes thereon inform us which regiment the soldiers belong to and then we see them on guard outside Horse Guards' Parade [I particularly recognise the scene, for on my very first date with Linda I walked up Whitehall to catch the underground to Bethnal Green and a friend of mine was waiting at the bus stop and as I said where I was going, she raised her eyebrows as though to say best of luck in the East End!].
Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Lambeth Palace and 10 Downing Street are important residences that we see [I was lucky enough to work next door to number 10 at number 11, the Chancellor of the Exchequer's residence]. And close to Downing Street we find the Houses of Parliament and Sasek tells us of the protocol for identifying when the House of Commons is sitting and that Big Ben strikes every hour - well it did once over but not now and I see there is some talk that it might not ring again until 2021.
Piers on the Thames are depicted explaining that they are used when 'you take a boat up or down the river' [On my first ever day out with Linda her office had arranged a boat trip down the Thames to Southend and, as a new boyfriend, I was invited to go along; it was my only trip to Southend but I remember it vividly!]. Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and later Greenwich are there as sights seen as the boat sails serenely down the Thames.
The statue of Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens is shown [I lived across the road from it when I first moved to London as a 17-year-old] and Hyde Park corner is crowded as people listen to the speakers who perform there. And at the time of publication three million passenger per day travelled on the underground - it has now risen to around five million - but Sasek recommends the best way to see London is 'from the top of a bus', or if at London Zoo from the back of an elephant!
A crowded Petticoat Lane reminds me of time we used to spend there looking for bargains, and 'if you are a cricket fan, you may like to go to Lord's' and there is a delightful painting of the ground, where we spent many happy, or sometimes not so happy depending on the results, hours. And the Albert Hall is for music lovers with its promenade concerts [I attended once] and Battersea Park is there for the fun of the fair [again I visited only once].
The various museums and their exhibits are mentioned and then we learn 'There are many Mr Smiths in London. One of them sells books and has many shops and bookstalls', again WH Smith & Son was a shop I used to visit regularly, particularly when the sale was on. And speaking of shops, Selfridges was the biggest department store in the capital at the time of publication but we now learn that this has been overtaken by Harrods [we visited the latter occasionally but very rarely bought anything - the prices, phew!].
There are other interesting venues mentioned and it is a book, particularly for me, that evokes so many memories [even though I am a northern lad from Blackpool!] and Miroslav Sasek certainly gets his point across that 'London is full of interest.'
Apparently a holiday in Paris inspired Miroslave Sasek to write and illustrate children's travel guides to the big cities of the world. He began with 'This is Paris' and followed it up with 'This is London' and the series developed from there. The books with their informative text and distinctive illustrations were hugely successful and brought Sasek, who died in 1980, international fame.
Interestingly he begins his London volume with two dark, grey pages and tells us that 'Well, this is London'. He goes on to tell the reader not to worry because the city is only hidden in the fog a few times a year in winter! He then shows an aerial view of the city, crowded with properties and explains that (when the book was first published) 'It is the largest city in the world'; the additional notes at the rear now update that information by telling us that the honour (if that is what it is) now goes to Mumbai in India.
Policemen are the first people we encounter with their uniforms depicted so we know which one belongs to the Metropolitan Police and which one is from the City. And we learn that the City begins at the Temple Bar Memorial and that 'The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street', the Bank of England and the most important bank in the country, is in the heart of the City [I used to attend various meetings at the Bank of England and it always amazed me that, due to lack of space, the corridors had been turned into offices so in the middle of a meeting people would be passing by en route to their destination!]. I do like Sasek's portrayal of the city workers arriving for the office and then shown in their leisure wear 'at home on Sunday'.
St Paul's Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, Billingsgate fish market, the Monument and one of the oldest and smallest churches in London, St Ethelburga look splendid in Sasek's illustrations; the last named has today been restored and is open as a 'Centre for Reconciliation and Peace'. Fleet Street is depicted as the centre of the newspaper industry (updated to Canary Wharf in the notes) and in 1959 there were apparently 6000 buses in London, red ones and green ones. The latter were the Green Line coaches that took passengers into the surrounding countryside [Linda and I used to take those occasionally at weekends and armed with 'Green Line walks' we would try and negotiate our way round the countryside - it often failed and the only excuse I can offer is that we were quite young then!].
Sasek points out 'Queuing is for a Londoner a kind of sport' - I am not sure I ever found it sporting - and he goes on to say that entertaining a queue 'is for some a way to make a living'. With Buckingham Palace in mind, the various bearskins are explained, the point being that the plumes thereon inform us which regiment the soldiers belong to and then we see them on guard outside Horse Guards' Parade [I particularly recognise the scene, for on my very first date with Linda I walked up Whitehall to catch the underground to Bethnal Green and a friend of mine was waiting at the bus stop and as I said where I was going, she raised her eyebrows as though to say best of luck in the East End!].
Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Lambeth Palace and 10 Downing Street are important residences that we see [I was lucky enough to work next door to number 10 at number 11, the Chancellor of the Exchequer's residence]. And close to Downing Street we find the Houses of Parliament and Sasek tells us of the protocol for identifying when the House of Commons is sitting and that Big Ben strikes every hour - well it did once over but not now and I see there is some talk that it might not ring again until 2021.
Piers on the Thames are depicted explaining that they are used when 'you take a boat up or down the river' [On my first ever day out with Linda her office had arranged a boat trip down the Thames to Southend and, as a new boyfriend, I was invited to go along; it was my only trip to Southend but I remember it vividly!]. Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and later Greenwich are there as sights seen as the boat sails serenely down the Thames.
The statue of Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens is shown [I lived across the road from it when I first moved to London as a 17-year-old] and Hyde Park corner is crowded as people listen to the speakers who perform there. And at the time of publication three million passenger per day travelled on the underground - it has now risen to around five million - but Sasek recommends the best way to see London is 'from the top of a bus', or if at London Zoo from the back of an elephant!
A crowded Petticoat Lane reminds me of time we used to spend there looking for bargains, and 'if you are a cricket fan, you may like to go to Lord's' and there is a delightful painting of the ground, where we spent many happy, or sometimes not so happy depending on the results, hours. And the Albert Hall is for music lovers with its promenade concerts [I attended once] and Battersea Park is there for the fun of the fair [again I visited only once].
The various museums and their exhibits are mentioned and then we learn 'There are many Mr Smiths in London. One of them sells books and has many shops and bookstalls', again WH Smith & Son was a shop I used to visit regularly, particularly when the sale was on. And speaking of shops, Selfridges was the biggest department store in the capital at the time of publication but we now learn that this has been overtaken by Harrods [we visited the latter occasionally but very rarely bought anything - the prices, phew!].
There are other interesting venues mentioned and it is a book, particularly for me, that evokes so many memories [even though I am a northern lad from Blackpool!] and Miroslav Sasek certainly gets his point across that 'London is full of interest.'
March 12, 2020
Weer een superleuk boek en dit keer Londen, een stad die ik een paar jaar geleden heb bezocht (zo jammer dat ik dat nu dus niet meer kan, dank je Brexit). Ik keek er dus naar uit hoe het Londen van 1960 was en of het nog herkenbaar was met nu, en ja, heel veel dingen zijn nog herkenbaar en ik heb dan ook genoten om van alles te zien. En natuurlijk was er genoeg nieuws voor mij dus nog leuker. En ik vond de illustraties echt mooi. Ik had zo graag deze illustrator willen ontmoeten, hem live aan het werk hebben gezien. Ah, als ik nu maar een tijdmachine had.
Helaas was wederom de vertaling niet echt goed. Verkeerde nummers, woorden verkeerd vertaald, een man is nu twee mannen (gefeliciteerd), en zo kan ik wel doorgaan. Erg jammer hoor, je zou toch zeggen dat iemand het wel heeft gecontroleerd voordat het gepubliceerd wordt.. maar blijkbaar niet. Ik trek er wel puntjes af door de vertaling.
Helaas was wederom de vertaling niet echt goed. Verkeerde nummers, woorden verkeerd vertaald, een man is nu twee mannen (gefeliciteerd), en zo kan ik wel doorgaan. Erg jammer hoor, je zou toch zeggen dat iemand het wel heeft gecontroleerd voordat het gepubliceerd wordt.. maar blijkbaar niet. Ik trek er wel puntjes af door de vertaling.
March 24, 2022
A fun book with a collage and watercolor feel. Truth be told, I only checked this out from my local library to protect the papers I printed out.
This is for people who want a quick read and an brief overview of London. A couple of quick facts and a section in the back with the changes London has had over the years.
This is for people who want a quick read and an brief overview of London. A couple of quick facts and a section in the back with the changes London has had over the years.
July 25, 2023
Kolejny zachwyt nad tą serią!
October 28, 2022
Discovered this extremely cute series through random Goodreads reviews. Nice work, Goodreads.
This Is London was originally published in 1959, so it's more of a time capsule than an actual useful read about the current London landscape. Even the "updates" from the 2004 republication are outdated.
In any case, the artwork is lovely (crib this please, Pixar!) and the little factoids are delightful. A very pleasant read - I'll be tracking down the other entries in this series soon.
This Is London was originally published in 1959, so it's more of a time capsule than an actual useful read about the current London landscape. Even the "updates" from the 2004 republication are outdated.
In any case, the artwork is lovely (crib this please, Pixar!) and the little factoids are delightful. A very pleasant read - I'll be tracking down the other entries in this series soon.
October 31, 2012
Upon receiving this book in the post I couldn't wait to dive into London as it was in 1959. 'This is London' is a beautifully illustrated picture book depicting all things to do with the capital city. Miroslav Sasek shares his impressions of London with its beautiful buildings, historic monuments, bridges, parks, shops and Piccadilly Circus, black cabs, Horse Guards, and the famed Underground. Sasek has encapsulated the landmarks and smaller cultural aspects of London. Awash with colour, 'This is London' is bound to please anyone from young children to fully fledged adults.
The 'This is...' collection is ideal for anyone who wants to uncover the much loved features of the capital cities around the world. The collection would be particularly beneficial to primary school children and geography lessons. To tie in cross curricular links an art project could be based on Sasek's books, focusing on the use of collage, colour and illustration.
I believe Sasek's books have stood the test of time and will continue to do so.
The 'This is...' collection is ideal for anyone who wants to uncover the much loved features of the capital cities around the world. The collection would be particularly beneficial to primary school children and geography lessons. To tie in cross curricular links an art project could be based on Sasek's books, focusing on the use of collage, colour and illustration.
I believe Sasek's books have stood the test of time and will continue to do so.
December 29, 2017
Since nobody really came through for me with a book this year for Christmas, I got a couple for myself. This was one of them and I really enjoyed it! It was fun to read the book with its original text and then have the updates starred and explained in the back. It was fun to see how London has changed since this book's appearance in 1956. Good introduction to London for kids (and those of us adults who are ever and always homesick for that city).
March 31, 2019
It was my brother's book, but I loved it best. My brother has this book still, somewhere, in a box I suppose. Probably out in the shed in my yard. Hmmm. I think there's a crazy little guy sawing a tree branch, which, when it falls, will take him with. Weird.
April 26, 2015
Oh, how I love M. Sasek's illustrations!
August 21, 2016
Very pretty and quirky vision of a less globalised London.
December 20, 2020
Lovely descriptive, illustrated guidebook to my favorite city, bought by my parents for their children when we lived there 50+ years ago.
Lots of wonderful memories! I look forward to going back.
Lots of wonderful memories! I look forward to going back.
June 16, 2018
Jongste zoon bracht de Nederlandse vertaling mee na klasbezoek aan de bib. Hij was al superenthousiast aan het lezen en voorlezen in de auto, dus moest ik dit ook wel eens vastnemen!
De zin om opnieuw naar Londen te gaan is alvast weer helemaal terug, misschien wordt dit wel de eerste "echte" citytrip met het gezin?
Of we nog veel bolhoeden zullen zien betwijfel ik, maar een ritje op een rode dubbeldekker zal dan zeker niet ontbreken :-)
De zin om opnieuw naar Londen te gaan is alvast weer helemaal terug, misschien wordt dit wel de eerste "echte" citytrip met het gezin?
Of we nog veel bolhoeden zullen zien betwijfel ik, maar een ritje op een rode dubbeldekker zal dan zeker niet ontbreken :-)
September 15, 2022
I recently learned of this series of travel books for children written back in the 1950's. Despite the age of this one, it's still fun to read it (just 58 pages) and enjoy the marvelous illustrations by Sasek.
His art style is charming, and being a children's book, this is full of drawings.
I would have loved to see Sasek revisit these cities and re-do the books. Unfortunately, he passed away in 1980. Despite it's age, this is a neat book to share with children.
His art style is charming, and being a children's book, this is full of drawings.
I would have loved to see Sasek revisit these cities and re-do the books. Unfortunately, he passed away in 1980. Despite it's age, this is a neat book to share with children.
June 8, 2014
This was a gift for our son from some friends we made while living in London. I'm not sure what to think of this book. It's a little too long and perhaps too many of the same sort of thing: this is the blah blah, it was built in 16?? by so-and-so. But that said, my son stuck it out, even though he was super tired. and he thought some things were pretty funny. It would be better if he knew London at all. It's nice to know there are books on other cities by the same author. The illustrations are wonderful. We have an updated version. The text in the book proper is the same as it ever was and there is a section in the back which informs us as to which details are no longer correct (the world has grown and changed since the 50's), but while the adult in me says it's nice to know, I don't think it really matters. It's relatively easy and harmless to say "London is 'one' of the biggest cities in the world" and as for the rest, well, let's just say, do we care?
November 24, 2012
I think this would be a great book for young children since the text are simple. The illustrations are cute but gives me this feeling like it was written a while back and the pictures aren't modern like. The book is sort of like a children's guide to London! If they want to see London one day, they might recall certain things from this book. The author has written many things about London around the year he wrote it, i'm sure if there was on that's up to date, there are a lot more changes than he provided in the book as he compared it to way back his time.
This would be a great book for young children, learn about a different place, know the history and how things are different (people & environment). An activity to compare the book and the up to date facts, or have them write a book based on a state or country they wish to see.
This would be a great book for young children, learn about a different place, know the history and how things are different (people & environment). An activity to compare the book and the up to date facts, or have them write a book based on a state or country they wish to see.
October 24, 2013
Miroslav Sasek shares his perspective of London through his text and beautiful illustrations. Miroslav shares the historic monuments, parks, restaurants, and buildings. There were no characters used in this book, but the illustrations and text did the book enough justice. The book appeals to all ages of people. As a teacher, I would not use this book in a literary sense because I could not find anything that would go hand and hand with the subject, but I would definitely use it for a geography class. The students can interact with the text through the illustrations. Miroslav does a great job providing bright, vintage pictures of this city. This text will give readers a sense of events that take place, transportation, and the foods eaten in the city of London.
December 29, 2016
Even though it was originally published in 1959 this is the best guide book to a city that I ever read! So accessible and so interesting for children. The tone, illustrations, interesting info, all wonderful.
I know how much I admire a book when I finish it and look up other titles by the author. Luckily, Sasek has written about lots of cities so I have a lot of fun reading in my future!
Erin originally picked this out in a bookstore on our Oct. 2016 bookstore and tea tour of London, and after I read it, I wanted my own copy!
I know how much I admire a book when I finish it and look up other titles by the author. Luckily, Sasek has written about lots of cities so I have a lot of fun reading in my future!
Erin originally picked this out in a bookstore on our Oct. 2016 bookstore and tea tour of London, and after I read it, I wanted my own copy!
March 11, 2009
Saw this book at Hatchard's the other day and decided to give it a try. I've always loved children's books because of their whimsical way of looking at the world, and this book lived up to that standard. The illustrations are quirky and the book itself is full of interesting facts that people of all ages can stand to learn from. The only thing I dislike is the exorbitant price you pay for a book with only 64 pages!
July 18, 2012
This book was first published in 1959, but the book was so colorful, vibrant & fun. The book was like a coffe-table picture book. It was very easy to read and even the little ones can get into this book. The other great thing about this book is that it has updated facts in the back of the book. A lot of things have changed in London, let alone the world. It is another great addition to the London-mania books that are peppering bookstores everywhere because of The Olympics. Such a fun read.
August 7, 2012
This is a fun series, introducing young children to major world cities. I bought this one to introduce my daughter to London, in honor of the Olympics. It was originally written in the fifties, but definitely has a timeless quality in text and illustrations, and any facts that have changed since its original printing are updated in the back. We look forward to exploring others in the This Is series.
March 17, 2020
This is London by Miroslav Sasek is the second of the This is... picture book series. It's a snapshot of London of the late 1950s.
It covers all the big, well known parts of the city: the monuments, Piccadilly Circus, the black taxicabs, the Underground, the Horse Guards, and so forth. If you read the more recently released edition (2004), you can read the appendix that includes comments on what has changed over the years.
It covers all the big, well known parts of the city: the monuments, Piccadilly Circus, the black taxicabs, the Underground, the Horse Guards, and so forth. If you read the more recently released edition (2004), you can read the appendix that includes comments on what has changed over the years.
February 5, 2016
I happened across this book at work. I love it, but then, I love London! :) It's obviously dated, since it was originally written in 1959, but it was almost like visiting London in the past. Very cute, with fun illustrations. Despite the content being dated, I would share this with any children that might be going to visit London for the first time. :)
July 22, 2016
This is a short book that shows us the London of 1959. It has amazing drawings that makes the book simply beautiful. It's a great work for anyone who likes London or anyone who wants a quick and fun read. Sasek did a brilliant thing with it, in the future I'll check the book over and over again just to see the gorgeous illustrations once more.
February 6, 2016
I have been to London 3 times....and I still haven't seen all the things list (but most...so I am all good) Lots of good memories, plans for the future and since this was published in 1959 and republished in 2004- there are some small historical updates but nothing that detracts. Love the vintage feel of it!
February 3, 2017
So glad this series got reissued. This is London is an adorable look around perhaps the more typical sights of London, if slightly out of date. The illustration of Drury Lane Theatre advertises Julie Andrews in My Fair Lady for one, but the illustration of speakers talking about housing scandals is probably still current.
August 28, 2025
Un classico dell’illustrazione che cattura lo spirito di Londra con eleganza e ironia. Autobus rossi a due piani, piogge improvvise, guardie in uniforme e la vita pulsante della città prendono forma in tavole vivaci e senza tempo. Un omaggio affettuoso che restituisce lo stupore di scoprire Londra con occhi da viaggiatore.
May 27, 2010
At first glance, the artwork feels a bit corny and 1960ish ("Well, duh!" you say.) but after a few readings the feeling lessens, and it becomes charming... much like Ludwig Bemelman's Madeline books. Great for children as an introduction to London.
September 10, 2014
I will be buying this book for my friends who went to London with my husband and I. And one for ourselves. In 2007 they updated the facts but already a few are wrong. It would be fun to give students the task of finding which ones!
September 13, 2011
The text is quite dry, but it is informative. The illustrations are cute.
It was originally written, I think, in 1959. This new edition kept the original book intact, but included footnotes with the changes that have occurred over the years.
It was originally written, I think, in 1959. This new edition kept the original book intact, but included footnotes with the changes that have occurred over the years.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews